I don't think the paper meant it as a slam, more as a way to promote the one of the masses of colored people flocking to them, and therefore get potential recruits to the Union Army. That was emphasized by how they described him as acting soldierly.
As a more recent example, I know of a unit stationed in Iraq not too long ago that left their battalion guidon in their old quarters in that country and didn't notice it until they were awaiting to leave Kuwait. The 1st Sgt., who was ultimately responsible for it, simply forgot it amid the numerous things to pack away for the trip home. This was done in a non-combative situation, which was entirely different from the state of affairs in Arkansas at that time.
I, too, wondered about the possibilty of it being more of a ceremonial flag than one used in the field, since I noticed they didn't say he removed it from a pole before rolling it up. It would be hard to imagine a standard bearer walking around with a bare pole in his hands. Good point. Maybe there exists a diary or letter that more fully describes its loss as I am quite sure they had to report to someone that they had lost a flag.
Richard