Allow me to clarify. When I say "no further records," that occurs as no more bi-monthy company muster rolls are found in the records. Had he returned, this would have been recorded on a subsequent roll. Had it been determined that he had died, this would have been recorded on subsequent rolls. Also, he might later have been dropped from the rolls for some reason, such as prolonged absence, capture, death, desertion, etc. This again, would have been so recorded. As no subsequent records exist, we're left in the dark as to his subsequent status.

The last roll surviving that we know of is that dated August 31, 1864. There would have been three more bi-monthly musters held before war's end.

These were official records, one copy being required to sent to the War Department in Richmond. During the sacking and evacuation of Richmond, many, many Army records were lost, destroyed, etc. We are fortunate that many survived. It seems, for most Confederate units, records from early 1864 to the end were lost forever.

Now, the fact that his last muster roil states "whereabouts unknown," odds on, this may well reflect his earlier demise.