Revolver Reloading On The Field.

[Poor Private]

Like 1sgt says you need to do the documentation of your unit and they used for weapons. My understanding is that sidearms were issued to large guns for one purpose only- to shoot the wounded horses in your guns hitch so you could cut them out of thier harness so that your gun could still be moved off the field. Also if your unit did carry sidearms you would generally on carry "1" (no Josie Wales affect) remember J.W was a member of a gorilla cavalry unit and they would carry many side arms--try reloading any pistol while your horse is at a full gallop! Thats why they had pommel holsters, along with a waist holster.
The 2nd Kentucky unit I belong to is better known as "Morgan's Raiders" who pulled 2 mountain howitzers with them and used any and all various weapons from shotguns to carbines, to cut down 3 banders, to any and all style of handguns.

 

[Dispatch]

The Confederacy did not issue sidearms. Officers had to buy there own. A Confederate soldier obtained a pistol by either private purchase, what he brought from home or what he could pick up on the battlefield after a battle. This was also the case for alot of the Federal soldiers as well. The main purpose of a pistol for an artillerist was for when the cannon was overrun, it was the only weapon a member had to defend himself. The only 'issued' weapon was the 1832 foot artillery sword. As a personal side arm, it was intended for use by the regular or foot artillery regiments of the United States Army and remained in service until 1872 for use of foot artillerymen. It was the issue sword for sergeants and musicians of infantry regiments from 1832 until 1840. As most artillery regiments were trained and equipped as infantry prior to 1861 a single weapon for both types of troops made sense. It replaced the earlier Starr pattern sword used throughout the 1820s. While the design was impractical for actual combat and was discarded in wide numbers, it is believed that artillerymen did put this weapon to use, such as clearing brush or creating trails. It was used for cutting paths through the Florida swamps during the Second Seminole War, which occurred during the time it was issued to infantry sergeants, drummers and fifers. This is somewhat corroborated by the French nickname for their version of this the sword, coupe choux (cabbage cutter). The last Ames contract for this sword was completed in 1862, although as a stock item it continued to be listed in company catalogs for decades afterwards.