When the Lamanite army returns it finds Mulek in Nephite hands. This is contrary to all of the information they have received, and is so completely unexpected that they retreat in disarray. Helaman indicates that the remove “out of all this quarter of the land.” Of course Helaman does not consider this a final victory, but rather a retaking of Nephite territory that he must now hold.
The interesting statement that we find in verse 30 is that “they have carried with them many women and children out of the land.” Why might this have happened? Why didn’t they leave the women and children in the city? How was it that women and children happened to be with the Lamanite army?
The Book of Mormon does not tell us, but we may make some speculation. When the Aztec armies marched they carried with them some provisions, but they also had many people accompanying them who were porters carrying more provisions (Hassig 1998, pp. 63-64). It is probable that the women and children were employed in the task of carrying provisions for the marching army.