Helaman stresses that they went a “considerable distance.” Had the Lamanites been very close to Antiparah, they would logically have attempted to return to that city, not only for refuge, but also to call out reinforcements who would help turn the tide of the battle. Being far from Antiparah guaranteed that the Lamanite army was cut off, a fact that they quickly recognized.
The Lamanites assumed that the trailing army would probably be larger than the one they were chasing, whose numbers they had been able to appraise. No doubt they also quickly deduced that Helaman’s unit was supposed to turn and attack when the Lamanites wheeled about to meet the ambushing troops. Their unnamed commander, however, countered by pushing forward more quickly to overtake and destroy Helaman’s unit, thus leaving them free to engage the pursuing Antipus.