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There were a number of breech loaders, the oldest one that I know of is the Ferguson's rifle. It was about Revolutionary war period. Sharps had a single shot breech loader, that fired a combustible cartridge. The Sharps reported rate of fire was 10 rd/min compared to a expected 3rd/min while standing for the rifled muskets. Burnside had a metallic cartridge that uses a standard percussion cap. Then one of the most famous was the Henry's rifle. The Henry's rifle was issued to the 101st Illinois during the war.
Also to be noted, std issued for a infantry soldier was 60 rds. 40 rd went into the cartridge box and 20 rds into the haversack.
As wet dog mentioned, logistic in supplying correct ammunition was a nightmare. Also because of powder fouling, officers would want smaller diameter rds issued. Accuracy and training with the musket was not much of a issue. The Army didn't consider it much until after Gettysburg.
One of the biggest impediment to modern firearm changes was General Ripley, in charge of Army Ordinance. He was from the Mexican American period and felt all the boys needed was buck N Ball. He would stall procurement of anything new. President Lincoln bought some hopper fed machine guns. Ripley sent them to farthest Army outposts to be tested, knowing it would delay the process.
BTW, My oldest shooter is a 1818 Springfield. It had a '42 Belgium conversion done (to cap lock) and then rifled for the Civil War.
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