Notwithstanding the fact that the Lamanites had been defeated by a resurgent Nephite army, the hotly contested war continued. Six thousand men, with a much-needed supply of provisions, reached Helaman from Zarahemla and the regions round about (63 B.C.), besides sixty more young Ammonites who had grown sufficiently vigorous to assume the hardships of military life. Helaman now rejoiced to Moroni that at last "we were strong, and we had also a plenty of provisions brought unto us."
With confidence in their renewed strength, and that the Lord, the great Giver of all Good, would magnify it and give them courage and fortitude, they awaited anxiously "to wage a battle with the army which was placed to protect the City Cumeni."
The Lamanites in the City of Cumeni expected that a supply of provisions would reach them shortly from the Land of Nephi, and in this hope they took courage. But evidently spies from the Nephite camp learned of it, and a little before its arrival they surrounded the city with a portion of their newly-acquired army. For many days the Nephites waited, still encamped around its walls, sleeping upon their weapons of war so as not to be surprised by the Lamanites and thereupon slain which the Lamanites tried almost daily to do.
At last, when the Nephites with mounting strength, had caused the Lamanites within the city great discomfort by cutting off all reinforcements both of men and provisions, the supply of needed food and clothing arrived for the expectant people of Cumeni. But as the supply train attempted to enter the city by night, it was met by Nephites, not Lamanites, who took captive the men in charge thereof, and added to their own, the supplies intended for the Lamanites.
The Lamanites, unmindful of their weakening bodies, and notwithstanding the certainty of defeat unless their impoverished store of supplies was replenished, "were still determined to maintain the city." They made many attempts to recover the lost provisions, and release the prisoners that the Nephites had taken in their bold adventure. The continual sorties made by the Lamanites in their efforts to regain what they had lost in needful supplies, made it advisable for Helaman to order that the captured provisions be sent to the City of Judea, and the prisoners to Zarahemla.
The Lamanites soon after their plans of replenishment had gone astray, became increasingly discouraged and it was not long until all hopes of succor were gone, and "they yielded up the City unto our hands; and thus we had accomplished our designs in obtaining the City Cumeni."