They were pleased to be of service to their officers.

If the Captain's child is ill, every man in the company is solicitous; half of them want to act as nurse.

They feel honored to be hired to look after an officer's horse and clothing.

The "striker" as he is called, soon gets to look on himself as a part of his master; it is no "Captain has been ordered away," but "We have been ordered away." Every concern of his employer about which he knows interests him, and a slight to his superior is vastly more of an offence than if offered to himself.
Indeed, if the army knew how well officers of the colored regiments are looked after by their men, there would be less disinclination to serve in such commands.

After years with a Negro company, officers find it difficult to get along with white soldiers.