The writer of the account I am familiar with may have been referring to just his own company but I believe he meant that entire regiment when he said they fought the last two years of the war with revolvers and sabers only. I’ve got to go back and read it again. I disagree with using the modern term “shock troops’” in referring to light horse regiments. To me the term implies assault of a fixed position. This would have been suicide.

If these ordinance reports are accurate then in 1863 the 8th had 99 men who rode with a handgun only and 26 who fought unarmed (or with saber only). In 1865 they had 120 who carried revolvers only and 12 who got by with bare hands or just a saber. I believe this supports my contention that the reports don’t include personal sidearms (at least not all of them).