- Brigadier General John Wharton's Confederate command (1st and 2nd Tennessee Cavalry and 2nd Mississippi Infantry) has orders to hold the crossroads at all costs.
- Brigadier General Solomon Lewis' Federal command (1st and 2nd Indiana Infantry, 2nd and 3rd Ohio Infantry, 1st Battalion 1st Kentucky Cavalry, and left section Battery "A," 1st Michigan Light Artillery) have orders to attack into Lebanon from Pace and take the crossroads. Knowing that the enemy is in close pursuit, he wants to take the crossroads to his west before he is attacked by the infantry coming from the east.
- Major General E. J. Starbuck has split his command, with Walker's Brigade (1st, 2nd and 3rd Arkansas Infantry) moving at the double quick along Swamp Road to block the West Pines Road north of Lebanon. Taylor's Louisiana Brigade (6th, 7th and 8th Louisiana Infantry), supported by Cole's Tennessee Battery and the 2nd Battalion Engineers, is to advance against the enemy at Pace and demonstrate until Walker is in position. Taylor will find that Lewis' men have already left Pace and will pursue to Lebanon.
Starbuck is trying to use a "hammer and anvil" approach to catch Lewis between Wharton and Taylor and block his withdrawal routes. Lewis is attempting to clear the enemy out of Lebanon and create a clear route of withdrawal before having to fight Starbuck's infantry. Lewis' men are at the Pace Farm and close to Lebanon. Taylor has a much longer march to being able to hit Lewis' rear.
The big questions: 1) Will Wharton hold long enough for Taylor to arrive and attack Lewis' rear while Lewis is still engaging Wharton's men to his front? I have no idea, but we will find out tonight when I run the scenario.
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