I had assumed that he was in the battles that his unit fought during the time of his enlistment.

His battalion was at Ft Thompson up at New Madrid, MO. Many men got sick there and were sent to Memphis where many died. he was sent in march, and some of his unit was surrendered and captured on April 8, 1862 and went north to prison, others escaped. Evidently when he was well enough, he was furloughed home to Arkansas where he remained for a short period. He personally shows back up as present in March 1863...however there is a gap in the units records from April 1862 until then on his CSR. He may have rejoined during summer of 1862 and traveled with the unit as part of Churchill's and later McNair's brigades on the Kentucky Campaign in Aug-Oct 1862 fighing at battle of Richmond, KY. He was also possibly with the unit iin the battle of Murfreesboro, TN Dec 31, 1862. He was definately present when they, as part of Gen Johnston's forces were trying to assist Vicksburg and fought around Jackson MS. When he is listed as deserting was as the unit was in process of moving to Georgia to assist with the soon to be fought battle of Chickamauga, which was after he deserted on 9 September. There is no mention of wounding or loss of leg on his official papers. It does not mean he didnt join a unit back home and get wounded here.

His desertion was at the time his enlistment time ended. .

His enlistment did not end, the Confederate conscription law was enacted and all men were in for the duration of the war. But maybe he felt he met his committment and said the heck with it???

Hope this helps.