No knowledge on whether R.E. fired the Colt during the War. He operated behind lines during the Mexican War (that is- eyeball to eyeball with the enemy) so he wasn't an armchair general. He might have fired the revolver time to time if he thought the integrity of the load might be getting too old- I just don't know.
On the paper or plastic tubes- I didn't explain correctly. The paper tubes are mini-speed loaders, they don't go into the chamber. You measure out a charge of powder and then put on the top part of the tube or plug it with a ball/conical. I have 100 of these paper tubes but only put about 20-25 in an Altoids can. In the same Altoids can I put 20 round balls, 20 loose wads, and a small plastic baggies bag of caps, plus a nipple wrench. To load, take the top/bullet off/out of the paper tube and pour the charge in the chamber, Then put the paper tube back in the Altoid can- to be reused.
On the Sam Colt "wad" used on an early combustible cartridge. If I recall from the patent it was thin and of cork. It must not have been necessary because he stopped using it.
You can use various patterns on the paper case. Sam Colt made an isosceles trapezoid. The top was wider than the base, the angles on the sides made the finished case tapered. The base had an attached round tab that was folded up over the back to close the back of the tube. I made a cardboard template like that and mark cigarette paper to the template pattern and then glue the sides and back trapdoor in place with a glue stick. The gummed edge of the cigarette paper is on top- on the inside. Put in the powder, then the bullet, then lick the cigarette paper and the moisture activates the glue and glues the case to the bullet.