According to Isaac Cravath, Captain of Co G, 12th Michigan, it was Capt Graves who led
both companies in this action. I believe, since Cravath was there, and wrote this only a few months later, Ill take his word for it that there was only one person in command of both companies.
Please change my answer to
Captain Phineas Graves.
The Lansing State Republican., October 08, 1862, page 2.
The question says "Who were the leaders of those companies?" It doesn't say, "Who was in command of the reconnaissance-in-force?" or "Who were the Captains of those companies." If more than one "leader" is required for a correct response, I guess I will have to add Major James Powell, 25th Missouri, in command of the reconnaissance-in-force, to my answer above. Just to clarify, if, and only if, more than one "leader" is required, my answer then is Capt Phineas Graves & Maj James Powell. Otherwise, I'll take Captain Cravath at his word.
Edit - The question did require the names of more than one "leader." As indicated in the edit to Soldier Boy's post above, I am accepting Major James Powell as one of the leaders of the scouting mission, so you also get credit for a correct answer.
I would mention that I do give credit for answers that are supported by sources (provided, of course, that I agree that the source actually does support the answer). In your case, you submitted two earlier posts giving two different sources identifying Capt.Gilbert Johnson (who, as it happens, was an official correct answer) as the commander of one of the 12th Michigan companies involved in the scouting mission. You could have saved yourself a lot of trouble by sticking with that answer, instead of continuing to search until 2:00 AM to see if there might be any other sources that would make you want to change it.
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