Alma 62:15-26

¹⁵ And it came to pass that as they were marching towards the land, they took a large body of men of the Lamanites, and slew many of them, and took their provisions and their weapons of war. ¹⁶ And it came to pass after they had taken them, they caused them to enter into a covenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites. ¹⁷ And when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to dwell with the people of Ammon, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been slain.

¹⁸ And it came to pass that when they had sent them away they pursued their march towards the land of Nephihah.  And it came to pass that when they had come to the city of Nephihah, they did pitch their tents in the plains of Nephihah, which is near the city of Nephihah.

Alma 62:15-18 (Emphasis mine)

As Moroni₁ and Pahoran marched, they met a large body of Lamanites.  A battle broke out and the Lamanites were eventually defeated.  The survivors, numbering about 4,000, surrendered and entered “into a covenant that they would not more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites.”  This satisfied Moroni₁.  John Welch explained the seriousness of this covenant.

“Such covenants were taken seriously. After defeating a Lamanite army, Moroni and Pahoran caused those who had not been slain "to enter into a covenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites. And when they had entered into this covenant, they sent them to dwell with the people of Ammon, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been slain" (Alma 62:16-17). Moroni and Pahoran sent four thousand Lamanite soldiers, who had given nothing more than their word, to live with the defenseless Ammonites!”[1] (Emphasis mine)

¹⁹ Now Moroni was desirous that the Lamanites should come out to battle against them, upon the plains; but the Lamanites, knowing of their exceedingly great courage, and beholding the greatness of their numbers, therefore they durst not come out against them; therefore they did not come to battle in that day. ²⁰ And when the night came, Moroni went forth in the darkness of the night, and came upon the top of the wall to spy out in what part of the city the Lamanites did camp with their army. ²¹ And it came to pass that they were on the east, by the entrance; and they were all asleep.  And now Moroni returned to his army, and caused that they should prepare in haste strong cords and ladders, to be let down from the top of the wall into the inner part of the wall.

Alma 62:19-21 (Emphasis mine)

Moroni₁ issued a challenge to the Lamanites after camping around the city.  The Lamanites seeing they were outmatched, refused to come out to battle.

That evening, Moroni₁ went out to spy and learn what he could about the Lamanites.  He saw that Lamanites were sleeping on the east side of the city, leaving the west side unguarded.  He prepared to enter the west side of the city.

²² And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his men should march forth and come upon the top of the wall, and let themselves down into that part of the city, yea, even on the west, where the Lamanites did not camp with their armies. ²³ And it came to pass that they were all let down into the city by night, by the means of their strong cords and their ladders; thus when the morning came they were all within the walls of the city.

²⁴ And now, when the Lamanites awoke and saw that the armies of Moroni were within the walls, they were affrighted exceedingly, insomuch that they did flee out by the pass. ²⁵ And now when Moroni saw that they were fleeing before him, he did cause that his men should march forth against them, and slew many, and surrounded many others, and took them prisoners; and the remainder of them fled into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore. ²⁶ Thus had Moroni and Pahoran obtained the possession of the city of Nephihah without the loss of one soul; and there were many of the Lamanites who were slain.

Alma 62:22-26 (Emphasis mine)

The army entered into the city by sneaking in over the wall on the west side of the city.  By morning, the Nephites were within the city. 

In the morning, seeing the Nephite army inside the city, the Lamanites fled.  They were pursued and many Lamanites died.  Moroni₁ surrounded many more Lamanites and took the prisoners.  The rest of the Lamanites were able to escape, fleeing into the land of Moroni, near the seashore. 

Moroni₁ and Pahoran successful took back the city of Nephihah.  And, it was done with the loss of one Nephite.

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[1] Law and War in the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 30, 2012.