Battle of Coon Creek 1848 - Mystery

[Guns Garrett]

Reading on this event, which happened in western Kansas in June of 1848, has me wondering.  In the various accounts of the battle, it is stated that some of the troops involved (about 75 recruits en route to Chihuahua) were armed with breechloaders capable of "5 shots per minute".  I can only assume these were Halls rifles, as Christian Sharps hadn't even patented his design yet, let alone sold any to the Army.  However - a couple of accounts (one a 1907 interview of a veteran) report these were "long-range German breechloaders"... which has me stumped.  Any ideas?

[Robert Swartz]

.....Mexican War, breech loaders had to be Hall's rifles.