Geography: The Nephites march north along on the west side of their land holdings. Being on the shore required that they crossed the mountain range separating the Sidon River Valley from the coastal regions where Ammonihah, destroyed over four hundred years earlier (and later rebuilt), had stood. It might have been renamed Joshua. It is certainly west of Zarahemla. Assuming this line of march, Mormon would be leading the pursuing army away from the greater Nephite population in the more central valleys.