Yes, there were a lot of full-length rifles used by the cavalry in the Western Theatre, but my personal theory is that this was by neccessity rather than dictated by intended use. [I am rather surprised to see the .70 caliber smoothbores and shotguns still in use in 1863.]

Some of Gen. Forrest's cavalry troops evidence this. They were fighting with inferior weapons, but Forrest believed that they had proven themselves and deserved better. He "visited" a warehouse in Mississippi in order to "obtain" carbines which had been set aside for a different unit. If I recall correctly, this was in 1863...maybe 1862. This "taking" was condoned and made official. Which also evidences that what weapons particular troops got depended to some degree on who your commander was! I don't recall of the top of my head if this was when Forrest was a regimental commander or if this was at the brigade level.

From what I have read of units commanded by Forrest, his troops (when lead by him personally) seldom fought dismounted unless attacking or defending) a position (i.e. Fort Pillow & the main engagement at Selma).

While the evidence is scanty for what the common trooper was using, it is documented that Forrest himself carried and *used* a sabre on many occassions during the war. And near the end, he was fighting against a Union Corps (Wilson's) which was equipped with and highly trained in the use of the sabre. I don't recall off the top of my head, for certain, whether he is documented to have been using a sabre at this time...but I seem to recall that there is an incident which occurred about the time of the Battle of Selma where he cut his way out of the clutches of some Union troops. It is documented that he was cut up pretty bad by sabre just after the Fall of Selma. He was noted by observers as being covered in blood from these sabre cuts.