Less than nine years had passed since the greatest military victory in recent Lamanite history. The battle at the city of Ammonihah must have become legendary among Lamanite soldiers. The city was the site of the wicked Nephites who imprisoned Alma and Amulek and burned the believing women and children (Alma 14). As a punishment, the city was completely destroyed in one day (Alma 16:9-11). Unaware of the hand of the Lord in their earlier success, the Lamanites must have thought that this newly rebuilt city would again yield a spectacular military victory.