In writing about the Nephite retreat in Mormon 5:5, Mormon states that “whatsoever lands we had passed by, and the inhabitants therof were not gathered in, were destroyed by the Lamanites, and their towns, and villages, and cities were burned with fire.” The fact that the Lamanites chose to destroy people and villages apart from the main Nephite armies might mean that there were still quite a number of “Nephites” or people associated with the Nephites that hadn’t been involved in battles yet, and that they were living between the city of Boaz and where the Nephites made a stand at the city of Jordan (Jashon). The reader should note that in this retreat, the lands of Joshua (Mormon 2:6), and Jashon (Mormon 2:16-17) are not mentioned. One has to wonder if Mormon was retreating over the same path as before.
From the perspective of a hemispheric model, if the Nephites gathered in all their people as they moved great distances (from Panama to New York), one has to wonder first how the Nephites could logistically sustain their numbers, and secondly why the Lamanites would keep advancing in the face of such increasing numbers for the opposition. Moreover, the farther northward the Lamanites came after the treaty of 350 A.S. (which gave all the land northward to the Nephites), the more they would be surrounded by Nephites, and the more precarious their position. Why would the Lamanites move deep into enemy territory if it took them far into North America? [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]
Geographical [Theory Map]: Mormon 5:6-7 The Lamanites Overwhelm the Nephites--the Nephites Flee (380 A.S.)
[[Moroni 8 & 9]] [Note* Mormon’s Epistles to Moroni (Chronology)]:
Although Chapters 8 & 9 of the book of Moroni (Mormon’s epistles to Moroni) were placed with the Plates of Mormon sometime between the years 401 A.S. and 421 A.S., these chapters of the book of Moroni most probably relate to a time period around 375 A.S. to 376 A.S. (chapter 5 in the book of Mormon) because of the following subtle bits of information contained within those chapters:
1. Moroni was old enough (24-30?) to be called to the ministry (Moroni 8:1).
2. Mormon was personally involved in battles (Moroni 9:2).
3. The battles were “sore battles” (Moroni 9:2).
4. The battles were ones in which the Nephites “did not conquer” (Moroni 9:2).
5. The Lamanites at this time “have many prisoners” (Moroni 9:7).
6. The prisoners are slain and treated inhumanely (Moroni 9:8).
7. The Nephites are making inhumane sacrifices of their own (Moroni 9:9-10).
8. Aaron is in charge of a Lamanite army (Moroni 9:17).
9. Mormon “cannot any longer enforce my commands” (Moroni 9:18).
10. Mormon has “sacred records that I would deliver up unto thee” (Moroni 9:24).
[Alan C. Miner, "A Chronological Setting for the Epistles of Mormon to Moroni, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol. 3/2 Fall 1994, pp 95-96] [See the commentary and chart on Moroni 8-9]