And now it came to pass in the twenty and sixth year213 of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi, behold, when the Lamanites awoke on the first morning of the first month, behold, they found Amalickiah was dead in his own tent, and they also saw that Teancum was ready to give them battle on that day. And now, when the Lamanites saw this, they were frightened, and they abandoned their design of marching into the land northward, and retreated with all their army into the city of Mulek, and sought protection in their fortifications. And it came to pass that the brother of Amalickiah was appointed king over the people, and his name was Ammoron. Thus, king Ammoron, the brother of king Amalickiah, was appointed to reign in his place.
And it came to pass that he did command that his people should maintain those cities which they had taken by the shedding of blood, for they had not taken any cities except they had lost much blood. And now Teancum saw that the Lamanites were determined to maintain those cities which they had taken and those parts of the land which they had obtained possession of. And also seeing the enormity of their number, Teancum thought it was not expedient that he should attempt to attack them in their forts, but he kept his men round about as if making preparations for war; yes, and truly he was preparing to defend himself against them by casting up walls round about and preparing places of refuge.
And it came to pass that he kept thus preparing for war until M’roni had sent a large number of men to strengthen his army. And M’roni also sent orders unto him that he should retain all the prisoners who fell into his hands, for as the Lamanites had taken many prisoners, that he should retain all the prisoners of the Lamanites as a ransom for those whom the Lamanites had taken. And he also sent orders unto him that he should fortify the land Bountiful and secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward, for fear that the Lamanites should obtain that point and should have power to harass them on every side. And M’roni also sent word unto him, desiring him that he would be faithful in maintaining that quarter of the land, and that he would seek every opportunity to harass the Lamanites in that quarter, as much as was in his power, that perhaps he might take again, by stratagem or some other way, those cities which had been taken out of their hands, and that he also would fortify and strengthen the cities round about which had not fallen into the hands of the Lamanites. And he also said unto him, I would come unto you, but behold, the Lamanites are upon us in the borders of the land by the west sea, and behold, I go against them, therefore I cannot come unto you.
Now the king, Ammoron, had departed out of the land of Zerach’mla, and had made known unto the queen concerning the death of his brother, and had gathered together a large number of men, and had marched forth against the Nefites on the borders by the west sea. And thus he was endeavoring to harass the Nefites and to draw away a part of their forces to that part of the land, while he had commanded those whom he had left to possess the cities which he had taken that they should also harass the Nefites on the borders by the east sea, and should take possession of their lands as much as it were in their power, according to the power of their armies. And thus were the Nefites in those dangerous circumstances in the ending of the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi.
But behold, it came to pass, in the twentieth and seventh year of the reign of the judges, that Teancum, by the command of M’roni — who had established armies to protect the south and the west borders of the land, had begun his march towards the land of Bountiful, that he might assist Teancum with his men in retaking the cities which they had lost — and it came to pass that Teancum had received orders to make an attack upon the city of Mulek and retake it if it were possible.
And it came to pass that Teancum made preparations to make an attack upon the city of Mulek and march forth with his army against the Lamanites, but he saw that it was impossible that he could overpower them while they were in their fortifications. Therefore, he abandoned his designs and returned again to the city Bountiful to wait for the coming of M’roni, that he might receive strength to his army.
And it came to pass that M’roni did arrive with his army to the land of Bountiful in the latter end of the twenty and seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi. And in the commencement of the twenty and eighth year, M’roni and Teancum and many of the chief captains held a council of war: regarding what they should do to cause the Lamanites to come out against them to battle, or that they might by some means seduce them out of their strongholds, that they might gain advantage over them and take again the city of Mulek.
And it came to pass that they sent embassies to the army of the Lamanites which protected the city of Mulek, to their leader, whose name was Ya’akov, desiring him that he would come out with his armies to meet them upon the plains between the two cities. But behold, Ya’akov, who was a Tzuramite, would not come out with his army to meet them upon the plains.
And it came to pass that M’roni, having no hopes of meeting them upon even grounds, therefore he resolved upon a plan that he might decoy the Lamanites out of their strongholds. Therefore, he caused that Teancum should take a small number of men and march down near the seashore, and M’roni and his army, by night, marched into the wilderness on the west of the city Mulek. And thus the next day, when the guards of the Lamanites had discovered Teancum, they ran and told it unto Ya’akov, their leader.
And it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites did march forth against Teancum, supposing by their numbers to overpower Teancum because of the smallness of his numbers. And as Teancum saw the armies of the Lamanites coming out against him, he began a retreat down by the seashore northward.
And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that he began to flee, they took courage and pursued them with vigor. And while Teancum was thus leading away the Lamanites who were pursuing them in vain, behold, M’roni commanded that a part of his army who were with him should march forth into the city and take possession of it. And thus they did, and slew all those who had been left to protect the city — yes, all those who would not yield up their weapons of war. And thus M’roni had obtained possession of the city Mulek with a part of his army, while he marched with the remainder to meet the Lamanites when they should return from the pursuit of Teancum.
And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue Teancum until they came near the city Bountiful, and then they were met by Lechi and a small army which had been left to protect the city Bountiful. And now behold, when the chief captains of the Lamanites had beheld Lechi with his army coming against them, they fled in much confusion, for fear that perhaps they should not obtain the city Mulek before Lechi should overtake them; for they were wearied because of their march and the men of Lechi were fresh. Now the Lamanites did not know that M’roni had been in their rear with his army, and all they feared was Lechi and his men. Now Lechi was not desirous to overtake them till they should meet M’roni and his army. And it came to pass that before the Lamanites had retreated far, they were surrounded by the Nefites, by the men of M’roni on one hand and the men of Lechi on the other, all of whom were fresh and full of strength; but the Lamanites were wearied because of their long march. And M’roni commanded his men that they should fall upon them until they had given up their weapons of war.
And it came to pass that Ya’akov, being their leader, being also a Tzuramite and having an unconquerable spirit, he led the Lamanites forth to battle with exceeding fury against M’roni, M’roni being in their course of march, therefore Ya’akov was determined to slay them and cut his way through to the city of Mulek. But behold, M’roni and his men were more powerful, therefore they did not give way before the Lamanites.
And it came to pass that they fought on both sides with exceeding fury, and there were many slain on both sides; yes, and M’roni was wounded and Ya’akov was killed. And Lechi pressed upon their rear with such fury with his strong men that the Lamanites in the rear delivered up their weapons of war; and the remainder of them, being greatly confused, knew not where to go or to strike. M’roni, seeing their confusion, said unto them, If you will bring forth your weapons of war and deliver them up, behold, we will cease shedding your blood. And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had heard these words, their chief captains, all those who were not slain, came forth and threw down their weapons of war at the feet of M’roni, and also commanded their men that they should do the same; but behold, there were many that would not. And those who would not deliver up their swords were taken and bound, and their weapons of war were taken from them, and they were compelled to march with their brothers forth into the land Bountiful. And now the number of prisoners who were taken exceeded more than the number of those who had been slain, yes, more than those who had been slain on both sides.
And it came to pass that they did set guards over the prisoners of the Lamanites and did compel them to go forth and bury their dead, yes, and also the dead of the Nefites who were slain; and M’roni placed men over them to guard them while they should perform their labors. And M’roni went to the city of Mulek with Lechi and took command of the city and gave it unto Lechi. Now behold, this Lechi was a man who had been with M’roni in the more part of all his battles, and he was a man like unto M’roni; and they rejoiced in each other’s safety, yes, they were beloved by each other, and also beloved by all the people of Nefi.
And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had finished burying their dead, and also the dead of the Nefites, they were marched back into the land Bountiful; and Teancum, by the orders of M’roni, caused that they should commence laboring in digging a ditch round about the land, or the city Bountiful. And he caused that they should build a breastwork of timbers upon the inner bank of the ditch, and they cast up dirt out of the ditch against the breastwork of timbers; and thus they did cause the Lamanites to labor until they had encircled the city of Bountiful round about with a strong wall of timbers and earth to an exceeding height. And this city became an exceeding stronghold ever after. And in this city they did guard the prisoners of the Lamanites, yes, even within a wall which they had caused them to build with their own hands. Now M’roni was compelled to cause the Lamanites to labor because it was easy to guard them while at their labor; and he desired all his forces when he should make an attack upon the Lamanites.
And it came to pass that M’roni had thus gained a victory over one of the greatest of the armies of the Lamanites, and had obtained possession of the city Mulek, which was one of the strongest holds of the Lamanites in the land of Nefi; and thus he had also built a stronghold to retain his prisoners. And it came to pass that he did no more attempt a battle with the Lamanites in that year, but he did employ his men in preparing for war, yes, and in making fortifications to guard against the Lamanites, yes, and also delivering their women and their children from famine and affliction, and providing food for their armies.
And now it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites on the west sea south, while in the absence of M’roni — on account of some intrigue among the Nefites which caused dissensions among them — had gained some ground over the Nefites, yes, insomuch that they had obtained possession of a number of their cities in that part of the land. And thus, because of iniquity among themselves,214 yes, because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves, they were placed in the most dangerous circumstances.
And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the people of Ammon, who in the beginning were Lamanites, but by Ammon and his brothers (or rather by the power and word of Elohim) they had been converted unto yhwh, and they had been brought down into the land of Zerach’mla, and had ever since been protected by the Nefites. And because of their oath, they had been kept from taking up arms against their brothers, for they had taken an oath that they never would shed blood more; and according to their oath, they would have perished. Yes, they would have allowed themselves to have fallen into the hands of their brothers, had it not been for the pity and the exceeding love which Ammon and his brothers had had for them. And for this cause they were brought down into the land of Zerach’mla, and they ever had been protected by the Nefites.
But it came to pass that when they saw the danger, and the many afflictions and tribulations which the Nefites bore for them, they were moved with compassion and were desirous to take up arms in the defense of their country. But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of war, they were overpowered by the persuasions of Cheleman and his brothers, for they were about to break the oath which they had made; and Cheleman feared that by so doing they should lose their souls. Therefore, all those who had entered into this covenant were compelled to watch their brothers wade through their afflictions in their dangerous circumstances at this time. But behold, it came to pass they had many sons who had not entered into a covenant that they would not take their weapons of war to defend themselves against their enemies. Therefore, they did assemble themselves together at this time, as many as were able to take up arms, and they called themselves Nefites. And they entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nefites, yes, to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yes, even they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty, but they would fight in all cases to protect the Nefites and themselves from bondage.
Now behold, there were two thousand of those young men who entered into this covenant and took their weapons of war to defend their country. And now behold, as they never had previously been a disadvantage to the Nefites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war and they would that Cheleman should be their leader. And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity. But behold, this was not all. They were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yes, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the mitzvot of Elohim and to walk uprightly before him.215
And now it came to pass that Cheleman did march at the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea. And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi, and so forth.