Here in a reference to the Pony Express by
Chapman, Arthur. The Pony Express: The Record of a Romantic Adventure in Business. G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, New York, 1932. Illustrated with contemporary prints & photos Pony Express. Contains interviews with Pony Express riders.
He said that:
"States that at first the riders were armed with carbines, as well as two revolvers per man. The carbines were soon discarded, as were the extra revolvers. The usual armament was one “navy” revolver. Occasionally a rider carried an extra, loaded cylinder for his revolver, in case of a fight with several opponents at close quarters. Even this extra weight was begrudged."
Here also are some references;
Source: Settle, Raymond W. and Mary Lund Settle. Saddles and Spurs: The Pony Express Saga and Bloss, Roy S. Pony Express: The Great Gamble.
Pony Bob Haslam wrote, "rode regularly between Lake Tahoe and Buckland’s Station in Nevada. Once he recalled that when asked to make an extra long ride when his relief rider refused to continue, he was ready to ride “... after adjusting my Spencer rifle, which was a seven-shooter and my Colt revolver, with two cylinders ready for use in case of emergency.”
"Thomas Dobson, who rode for Major Egan between Ruby Valley, Nevada, and Deep Creek, Utah, recounted once that when some Indians pursued them they were glad that they had pistols while the Indians had only bows and arrows. No mention was made of having a rifle."
"Howard Ranson Egan, who rode between Shell Creek and Butte Stations, remembered once when being threatened by Indians, that he rode straight through them “with pistol in my hand”. Again, no mention of having a rifle."
Richard S. Brownlee mentions in his excellent book, "Grey Ghosts of the Confederacy" That the Guerillas, that drove the Union Cavalry nuts with all of their firepower during the War, would carry multiple revolvers on their person and on their saddles. Again, no mention of reloading.
Elhombre, in my limited reading, I have never read very many references that actually explain when and how they reloaded their revolvers.
In,
The Paterson Colt
By Kerry Barlow
This article was published in Western Territories magazine.
"The Paterson had a marked influence on the early west, and was a sought after handgun. Examples of the Patersons success abound, the Paterson alone being responsible for saving wagon trains from attack, as reported by the famous Kit Carson, or 12 soldiers pinned down by over 60 Indians and living to tell about it by Col. Jack Hayes. One surviving Indian encountering the Paterson revolver was quoted as saying the following "Him no good" this simple comment holds a lot of truth in its statement, compared to a single shot handgun the Paterson "was" no good for the enemy. The Patersons greatest success and Colts claim to early fame was garnered from the Republic of Texas. The Texas Rangers used the Paterson Colt with huge success, earning the weapon a new name the "Texas Paterson"
The would have spare cylinders handy for a prolong fight, but no mention of a flask being carried to reload.
In so many words, I don't know.
But, in the day when single shot muzzle loading rifles, smoothbores and pistols were used by the vast majority of people both civilian and military running into someone armed with a Colt revolver must have seemed like the guy had a belt fed machinegun.
