""We took a number of the pistols that the enemy were using which were a very large caliber pistol, known as the French Dragoon"
Bruce,
That statement creates a question mark in my mind. The Savage was in .36 caliber. I wonder if they were Savages, why the man would call it a large caliber. Large caliber would make me think .44 or larger. Have you tried "googling" French Dragoon to see what you come up with? FC