Therese,

Unlike today's soldier, officers of the Civil War period purchased their own sidearms. Pistols were not an issued item. I have no information as to a type of firearm General Meade may have possessed for field service. He was prsented a presntaion pistol after the Battle of Gettysburg. This firearm was a Remington presentation pistol with engraved ivory grips, silver-plated frame, and gold-washed cylinder and hammer. I believe I read somewhere that this weapon was either stolen or was misappropriated by a less than reputable collector. The General also possessed a Model 1839 Topographical Engineer Officer's saber, manufactured by N.P. Ames of Springfield, Massachusetts. In William C. Davis's "Commanders of the Civil War", there is an excellent photo of General Meade's uniform, saber, and personal belongings.

Len