Mormon takes evident pleasure in describing the Lamanite consternation. While the purpose of this passage is to show the success of Moroni’s fortifications, it also contains other tidbits of information. The first is that the Lamanites who survived the battle of Jershon, even though they had taken a covenant not to return to battle, had obviously described the Nephite innovations. This Lamanite army is therefore well equipped with thick leather clothing as armor and “shields,” presumably of leather or wood to protect their heads and limbs (v. 6; see commentary accompanying Alma 43:18–20). This rapid diffusion of a military technological advance was typical of Mesoamerica.
Second, fortifications were also an apparent innovation. Mormon obviously admires Moroni’s brilliance and ingenuity. However, it is unlikely that all of these innovations originated with Moroni. By Mormon’s time, they were certainly widespread and Mormon would not know their actual origins. Ascribing these inventions to Moroni may be another of Mormon’s subtle enhancements of history.