Hey Vance, I was hoping someone else had some info for you, but I guess not.
Look here: http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/8bathis.html
if you haven't already done so.
Check on the red outlined box at the top of the page for search of records.
Evidently the records of the 8th Battalion were lost twice, so you'll probably need to do a lot of searching on your own (but that's part of the fun!). The timing of his death in May, 1865 may tell you something. There was a lot of 'end of war' fighting in North Carolina and there was that terrible train wreck in Tenn. where many returning soldiers were killed.
You have the best resource of all time at the tips of your fingers. Just keep looking. Good Luck.