Mic, you may want to take a look at the war time letter of Lt. Col. Roger Q. Mills, 10th Texas Inf. The letter was written June 22, 1862 in camp a few miles south of DeValls Bluff, Arkansas on the White River. He tells of his negro servant, Ben (no last name) running to a wagon grabbing a musket and cartridge box, buckled it on and took his place in the ranks, when it was thought the union cavalry was going to attack and capture their wagons, down stream and eight miles west of the river. He says "I am told Ben was as Cool and Keen as any for the fight".