There are few detailed accounts of the wars and conflicts between the Nephites and the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon. Usually the accounts are summarized and note the outcome without the details. However, there is a more detailed account contained in Alma, Chapter 43, describing the battle on the river Sidon and containing explicit references to the strategy and tactics of General Moroni, a Nephite. According to Retired Colonel Ernest F. Boyer, these references indicate that both General Moroni, who led the Nephite armies, and the prophet Mormon, who abridged the record, knew enough about war to address most, if not all, of the principles of war which have been adapted from Clausewitz’s theories in On War and which are currently used and taught as standards in military schools and war colleges throughout the United States.
Carl Philipp Gottfried von Clauswitz, a Prussian general and philosopher on war, was born June 1, 1780. He joined the army at age 12, studied at the war college in Berlin, and took part in the Napoleonic wars. He fought in the Prussian army at Waterloo (1815). Clauswitz wrote his book On War during the period 1832-34 (Translated into English: 1908) based on his extensive experience in war, identifying the nine most common principles of war: Unity of Command, Security, Economy of Force, Mass, Simplicity, Objective, Surprise, Offensive, and Maneuver
1. Unity of Command: The chain of command must ultimately lead to a single command authority who must clearly have the cooperation of all military forces involved:
Now the leader of the Nephites, or the man who had been appointed to be the chief captain over the Nephites--now the chief captain took the command of all the armies of the Nephites-- and his name was Moroni. And Moroni took all the command, and the government of their wars. And he was only twenty and five years old when he was appointed Chief Captain over the armies of the Nephties. (Alma 43:16-17)
2. Security: The principle of security can be logically extended to include all measures taken to protect friendly forces and the individual soldier. But, in the larger context of controlling armies, security consists mainly of assuring protection of the entire force against being surprised or losing the possibility of surprising the enemy:
And it came to pass that he [Moroni] met the Lamanites in the borders of Jershon, and his people were armed with cimiters, and all manner of weapons of war. And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that … Moroni had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing--Now the army of Zerahemnah [the Lamanite general] was not prepared with any such thing; they had only their swords and their cimeters, their bows and their arrows, their stones and their slings; and they were naked, save it were a skin which was girded about their loins; … But they were not armed with breastplates, nor shields--therefore, they were afraid of the armies of the Nephites because of their armor, notwithstanding their number being so much greater than the Nephites … But it came to pass, as soon as they [the Lamanites] had departed into the wilderness, Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their camp; and Moroni, also, knowing of the prophesies of Alma sent certain men unto him that he should inquire of the Lord whither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites … [And] the word of the Lord came unto Alma, and Alma informed the messengers of Moroni that the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people. And those messengers went and delivered the message unto Moroni … And Moroni placed spies round about, that he might know when the camp of the Lamanites should come. And now, as Moroni knew the intention of the Lamanites … therefore, he found by his spies which course the Lamanites were to take. (Alma 43:18-21, 23-24, 28-30)
3 & 4. Economy of Force and Mass: Economy of Force is the skillful use by the commander to achieve maximum effectiveness with the minimum possible force, i.e. to use all forces effectively. It is the corollary of Mass which is to concentrate a superior force at a critical point:
Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon, lest by any means a part of the Lamanties should come into that land and take possession of the city, took the remaining part of his army and marched over into the land of Manti. And he caused that all the people in that quarter of the land should gather themselves together to battle against the Lamanites … Therefore, he divided his army and brought a part over into the valley … and the remainder he concealed in the west valley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of the land Manti … Therefore the armies of Moroni encircled them about, yea, even on both sides of the river … (Alma 43:25-26, 31-32, 52)
5. Simplicity: Military missions and objectives are achieved with plans and operations. All must be simplified to the maximum extent possible to avoid misunderstanding and error, i.e. they must be “soldier proofed.” In primitive and modern war, conflict is lethal by intent. War is not a game to be played solely for personal growth and improved understanding. Victory is life and choice. Defeat is loss of choice and, quite possibly, death. Therefore, a thorough comprehension of national objectives, military missions, and of tactical plans and operations is vital to everyone’s interest and is achieved by the commander who wisely uses the principle of simplicity:
And he caused that all the people … should gather themselves together to battle … to defend their lands and their country, their rights and their liberties; … And he [Moroni] also knowing that it was the only desire of the Nephites to preserve their lands, and their liberty, and their church, therefore he thought it no sin that he should defend them by stratagem; … Nevertheless the Nephties were inspired by a better, cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church. (Alma 43:26, 30, 45) (Note*** Moroni’s application of the principle of Simplicity in the battle of the river Sidon is illustrated in the references for the principles of Offensive and Maneuver
6. Objective: Military forces, whether large or small-scale, must have a clear objective that focuses the efforts of the combatant forces. However, only offensive operations allow the choice of specific terrain objectives, i.e. vital terrain features selected in such a way as to require the accomplishment of all secondary, but necessary combat tasks. Defensive operations, such as those chosen by Moroni in the battle on the river Sidon, would have less specific objectives, e.g. protection of vital areas and destruction of the enemy’s offensive capabilities, including enemy command posts, lines of communication, personnel and equipment. Therefore, the principle of objective was generally applied and focused on the protection of Nephite lands and disruption of the Lamanites lines of communication and retreat. It was not Moroni’s intent to destroy the Lamanite force:
And he [Moroni] caused that all the people … should gather themselves together to battle against the Lamanites, to defend their lands and their country, … therefore they were prepared against the time of the coming of the Lamanites … Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanties, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion … And thus having placed his army according to his desire he [Moroni] was prepared to meet them … Now Moroni, when he saw their terror, commanded his men that they should stop shedding their [the Lamanites’] blood. (Alma 43:26, 47, 33, 54) (See also the following discussion of Offensive
7. Surprise: The principle of surprise is based on secrecy and is achieved, in part, through stealth and deception using camouflage and concealment:
And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his army should be secreted in the valley which was near the bank of the river Sidon, which was on the west of the river Sidon in the wilderness … Therefore, he divided his army and brought a part over into the valley, and concealed them on the east, and on the south of the hill Riplah; And the remainder he concealed in the west valley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of the land Manti. (Alma 43:27, 31-32)
8 & 9. Offensive and Maneuver: Even in defensive operations it is necessary to take the tactical offensive, i.e. to seize and exploit the initiative, in order to guarantee a successful battle outcome. Maneuver consists of the various ways that forces can be moved and deployed to obtain the offensive. Maneuver is also a means to obtain surprise, economy of force, and mass. “New technology and weapons have not drastically altered some of the classical types of offensive maneuver: penetration, envelopment, defensive-offensive maneuvers, and turning movements.” The account of the battle on the river Sidon (Alma 43) is probably best described as an envelopment, i.e. “a maneuver in which a secondary attack attempts to hold the enemy’s center while one (single envelopment) or both flanks (double envelopment) of the enemy are attacked or overlapped in a push to the enemy‘s rear in order to threaten the enemy’s lines of communications or lines of retreat. This forces the enemy to fight in several directions and possibly be destroyed in position.” (Note*** There is a commonly accepted defensive advantage of approximately 3 or 4 to 1. In other words, to assure probable success the offensive element must have 3 or 4 times the capability of the defensive element.)
Therefore, he [Moroni] divided his army and brought a part over into the valley, and concealed them on the east, and on the south of the hill Riplah; And the remainder he concealed in the west valley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of the land Manti. And thus having placed his army according to his desire, he was prepared to meet them [the Lamanites] … And as the Lamanties had passed the hill Riplah (on the north), and came into the valley, and began to cross the river Sidon, the army [commanded by Lehi] which was concealed on the south side of the hill … encircled the Lamanites about on the east of in their rear … the Lamanites, when they saw the Nephites coming upon them in their rear, turned them about and began to contend with the army of Lehi. And the work of death commenced on both sides, but it was more dreadful on the part of the Lamanties, for their nakedness was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephites … the Lamanites became frightened, because of the great destruction among them, even until they began to flee towards the river Sidon. And they were pursued by Lehi and his men; and they were driven by Lehi into the waters of Sidon, and they crossed the waters of Sidon. And Lehi retained his armies upon the bank of the river Sidon that they should not cross. [Then] … Moroni and his army met the Lamanties in the valley, on the other side of the river Sidon, and began to fall on them and to slay them. And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the land of Manti; and they were met again by the [other] armies of Moroni … Now, the Lamanites were more numerous, yea, by more than double the number of the Nephites; nevertheless, they were driven insomuch that they were gathered together in one body in the valley, upon the bank by the river Sidon. Therefore, the armies of Moroni encircled them about, yea, even on both sides of the river, for behold on the east were the men of Lehi. (Alma 43:31-33, 35-37, 39-42, 51-52)
(Note: A word of caution is in order here. A commander should not feel that all principles should be adapted to all situations. A careful consideration of the principles by the commander and his staff should reveal those that apply to the situation at hand and those that do not apply.) [Ernest F. Boyer, “General Moroni and the Battle on the River Sidon. Modern Principles of War in the Book of Mormon, Alma Chapter 43,” pp. 1-8] [See the commentary on Alma 44:6; Alma 44:10; 3 Nephi 3:10]
Alma 43:17 Moroni … was appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites (Major Nephite Leaders) [[Illustration]]: The Major Leaders During Nephite History. [Church Educational System, Book of Mormon Student Manual: Religion 121 and 122, 1989, p. 160]