The 5th MSM was commanded by Willima Penicks who operated mostly along the Missouri River, St. Joseph, Independence and Harrisonville area. With st. Joeseph being their headquarters. I have a day book from the 5th MSM and it would seem they were always engaged in some form of chasing down rebel sympathizers and partisans. If you go to the OR's Vol. XXII, XXXIV & XLIX you will get a pretty good idea what they did. Volume XIII has a great deal on activities of the regiment in 1862, mostly scouting operations with lots of contact. The regiment was often referred to as Penicks Thieves.