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That particular gun is the so-called "Tabatiere" conversion of the French Model 1857 musket. The nickname means "snuffbox" and was called that because it reminded some folks of the way the lid opened on the typical snuff box of the time. In general, it looks, and works, like the British Snider conversion. Originally intended to allow the French to convert millions of muzzle loading muskets to use fixed cartridges, they soon became obsolete and were sold to surplus companies who peddled them in Africa (where they got the name "Zulu guns"), in Asia, and the U.S. where many were reamed out and sold as shotguns.
While some French muskets were bought by the Union and used to arm rear area troops in the Civil War, the "tabatiere" conversions were too late for that conflict.
Jim
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