Herein is an "Official Report" of an otherwise undocumented (i.e. NOT in the ORs) expedition from Helena up the St. Francis River in July 1862. It is a newspaper account typeset from a (probably) hand-scrawled copy and is thus full of typographical mistakes. I have set corrections / amendments within brackets [ ] only for first or only occurence. The phenomenal George Martin aided greatly in helping identify "Captain F. T. Myseny" as (most plausibly) Capt. Frederick S. Wysong, of Company D, Eighth Indiana, killed at Vicksburg on 22 May, 1863.

Official Report.
Headquarters 1st Ind. Cavalry,
July 28, 1862.
Col. Conrad Baker. Commanding 4th Brigade, 1st Division :

Sir: In obedience to orders, on the 24th inst, I embarked on board the Hamilton Bell with 50 Cavalry [2nd Wisconsin] under the command of Captain [Edward D.] Luxton, 40 Infantry under the command of Captain F. T. Myseny [F. S. Wysong], 8th Indiana Volunteers, and two steel rifle guns, 1st Indiana Cavalry and proceeded up the St. Francis river to the mouth of Langville [SIC], where I was joined by one hundred Troopers from 3d Illinois Volunteers. After ferrying the Cavalry force across the mouth of the Langville river, I proceeded with the Infantry and small rifle guns on board the Hamilton Belle up the St. Francis about twenty-five miles, where we succeeded in capturing the pickets of the enemy. From them we obtained the information that a part of Col. A. R. Johnson's regiment was incamped upon the Langville river, at a point twelve miles west of us, and about ten miles above the mouth of the Langville. We also ascertained that a company of rebels, under the command of a Col. [John Q.] Burbridge, had crossed the St. Francis that morning, and intended to cross the Langville before stopping that night, making the force of the enemy between five and six hundred. I immediately dispatched Captain F. T. Myseny, 8th Ind. Volunteers with the boat and instructions to return to the mouth of the Langville, ascend the river, attack and harass the enemy should he attempt to cross, while I gave him battle on the land. Taking the cavalry and two guns with me, I then proceeded at a rapid rate across the country from the St Francis through the dense cane brake to the Langville. On the way we met the enemy's scouts. These we succeeded in killing and capturing. Captain Luxton, in charge of the advance, engaged in gallant style. Advancing rapidly, we soon found the enemy's camp, but unfortunately for our operations, there was a bayou, about 15 yards wide and very deep, between us and them. Bringing our guns in position, we gave them canister and shell, while some of our men swam across the lake, where, exposed to a galling fire from the enemy, they succeeded in securing and rowing across the bayou a very superiar [sic!] ferry host [sic! "boat"], in which I crossed my men, dismounted, where we engaged the enemy for ten or twenty minutes, chasing them from their camp and routing them in rather an unceremonious manner. In this engagement we lost but one man, while the enemy left over fifty dead and wounded. It being very dark and the enemy gone, we destroyed all their camp equipage and ferry boat, after which, we returned twelve miles to the St Francis river, where we rested the remainder of the night.
[#] Next day we proceeded up the St Francis river to the head of navigation. We captured one steamboat and a number of rebel store boats, and destroyed a large number of ferry boats used for the crossing of rebel troops. We captured an Express Messenger from Maj. Gen. Hindman to Maj. Gen. Braxton Bragg, with a number of official and very important documents. While operating on land, Captain Myseny was operating on the water. Going up the Langville, he came across the retreating party. With them he had a sharp engagement, killing a number, and capturing bag and baggage. Among the latter was a lady, Mrs. Burridge and her two children. But for this lady who was kept in the rear of the retreating foe, Captain Myseny would have killed many more; but from humane motives he commanded his men not to fire while the lady was in danger.

We captured fifteen rebel soldiers. Thanks are due to all the officers and men.

Your most obedient servant,

Wm. F. WOOD.

Lieut. Col. 1st Ind. Cav.