What was the significance of Teancum’s night raid?

Thomas R. Valletta

“One interesting feature of this attack is that it was consistent with ancient custom. Hugh Nibley has noted that in ancient warfare, since set combat was usually forbidden after sundown, ‘the wee small hours were reserved for the standard attack on the rival’s tent, a vital maneuver, since once the tent had fallen, the enemy’s morale, and often his resistance, was broken. … The ultimate in heroic gestures for the Arab was a night-raid on the tent of a chief’” (Merrill, “Nephite Captains and Armies,” 274).

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