The loss of the Nephite captain and his immediate subordinates confuses the Nephite soldiers, but they do not surrender. Still, their organization is disrupted and the Lamanites are pressing their advantage. Hassig explains how the loss of the identifiable leader would lead to such confusion:
Sound devices were effective in signaling the armies’ advance, but warriors of each unit entered battle shouting the name of their town and beating their shields with their swords, so such devices were ineffective for maneuvers during the engagement. For that, tall cuachpantli [literally a “cotton cloth” standard] standards were used. Unit leaders wore standards and led their troops into battle. If the cuachpantli bearer was killed or the standard was taken, the unit was thrown into disarray, and the Spaniards reasoned that the Indian warriors fled because losing their standard was an evil omen. Actually, this disarray was caused by more pragmatic considerations. Because the noise and confusion in battle made it impossible to rely on audible commands, sight was used, and the standard, towering above the fray, provided an easy sign indicating where and when the unit was advancing and retreating. Individuals and groups could keep in touch with their main body simply by observing the standard. And though the loss of the standard and the leader carrying it no doubt proved a major psychological blow to the rest of the unit, this setback was secondary to the loss of direction. Without the standard soldiers could not determine where their comrades were going, and they risked being cut off and captured by the enemy. The consternation shown by the army units had real tactical significance, and the loss of the standard-bearer did not mean divine displeasure and lead to dispersion; rather, it disrupted control and blinded the troops.
While the Book of Mormon battles do not describe such standards, Mormon might well have assumed that everyone would know such details and, hence, that it was not worth mentioning. The Book of Mormon troops, once they had lost a leader, would have had to cope with the same issues of control and direction. It seems likely that Helaman is describing a situation in which the standard-bearer (leader) has gone down, just as occurred in the later Aztec armies.