That isn’t what G.S Patton Jr. thought. He designed a straight pointed sword, and demanded that soldiers use the point, as that created wounds that were deeper, more serious, and would strike the enemy first, preventing the enemy from striking.
Of course Bedford Forrest emphasized the large caliber revolver, .36 or .44 caliber. Stuart was famous for his Lemat pistols, which had a 20 gauge shotgun in the center and 9 each .44 inch rounds wrapped around. Starting an engagement by launching the shotgun’s ‘blue whistlers’ at the enemy was likely to cause a moral check.
This is one of those threads that will make me look stuff up