As discussed under 1 Nephi 22:4, there has been considerable confusion, not only in the manuscripts but also in the editions, between the two words whither and whether. This particular example in Alma 52:36 has been one of the most confusing. 𝓞 clearly reads whither, but this is not definite proof of the original reading since Oliver Cowdery typically mixed up the spelling of the words whither and whether in the manuscripts. One aspect of this confusion occurred when he copied this passage into 𝓟. He initially wrote where, which has the same meaning as whither. But then virtually immediately he corrected where by crossing out the final re and supralinearly inserted ther (there is no change in the level of ink flow for this correction in 𝓟). Thus he ended up writing whether, although his intended meaning seems to have been ‘whither’ (that is, ‘where’).
The editions have generally maintained whether here in Alma 52:36. The 1841 British edition replaced whether with whither, perhaps unintentionally. The two subsequent LDS editions (1849 and 1852) continued with whither, but the 1879 LDS edition restored the whether of the first three editions. Finally, the 1981 LDS edition made the change back to whither once more.
The word whether interprets the meaning of this passage as one of logical choice—namely, the armies of the Lamanites didn’t know whether they should flee (“to go”) or whether they should stay and fight (“to strike”). In my opinion, this interpretation is forced, especially since the verb go seems too general to describe the specific act of fleeing from the field of battle. It is true that the Book of Mormon text does use whether with cases of choice between logical alternatives: “whether to do evil or to do good” (Alma 12:31) and “whether to do good or do evil” (Alma 41:7). But the actual meaning in Alma 52:36 doesn’t seem to be a logical choice between two options. Instead, the Lamanite armies were so confused that they didn’t know where to maneuver or position themselves (“to go”) or where to attack or engage in battle (“to strike”). The choice for the Lamanites is not between fleeing and fighting—they are surrounded by the Nephite armies. Rather it is about what battle action they should take. Here in Alma 52:36, the critical text will maintain the word whither, the same as the 1981 LDS reading.
Summary: Maintain in Alma 52:36 the word whither, which means ‘where’; the Lamanites are unable to decide where to position themselves on the battlefield or where to attack.