They Met at Lebanon - Skirmish - August 10, 1861

A battalion of Union cavalry moves westward through the Great Pine Barrens along the Clinton Pike, its destination: Lebanon.

At the same time, a Confederate ordnance train lumbers southward down the West Pines Road towards Lebanon. 

Well in the lead of the ordnance train are two battalions of Confederate cavalry.

A regiment of infantry marches with the ordnance wagons to the rear of the cavalry. 

The van of the Confederate column enters the town of Lebanon first. 

As the Federals approach Lebanon, the Confederate cavalry is already deployed and moving into position to defend its cross roads. 

The ordnance train scatters and breaks to the rear at the sight of enemy cavalry.

Instead of continuing into town, the Confederate infantry leaves the West Pines Road and moves east through the fields, well to the north of the enemy cavalry that is about to engage near town. 

The engagement begins with the opposing horsemen firing at about maximum effective range to little effect. 

Inexplicably, the Confederate infantry enters the woods well northeast of town and far out of range of the engagement and deploys there. 

The Union cavalry slowly advances forward, but starts taking heavier losses. 

In the end, the Federal cavalry retreats and withdraws eastward in the direction of Clinton. leaving the Confederates in possession of Lebanon.