We see studio pictures of soldiers armed to the teeth with revolvers. but study actual pictures of them in camp settings, I have never seen a line solider in a actual un-staged photo with a revolver on his hip, Officers yes but then only one so It leads me to believe that they were loaded with pre formed cartridges. Lest we forget that the main weapon for officers especially field grade was a saber, and the revolver was a secondary weapon, this is not said that there may have been a spare smaller piece tucked in a coat pocket, I believe the line solider then as now was weight conscious and carried only what was absolutely needed in a combat situation. Actual photos of officer's saber belts show the holster for a revolver also a cartridge box on the rear of the belt in the area of mid back. If a situation would exist where one needed to re-load it would appear that a pre-formed cartridge would lead to a more efficient re-charging of the piece.