Hello. I also have dealt with records that said nothing and one that said desertion. He was home healing at the time.
Since I have done a little of this, may I suggest that you visit your nearest Mormon library and do some research to get yourself back into North Carolina. Those folks will go out of their way to help you.
Just tell them what you know and they will sort of pick up and go with it. It is possible to learn a lot.
Forget everything else and just go there if you are really into the genealogy part.
Good luck!
Linda T. Acrey
gg grandchild of Sgt. J. D. Pearce, 8th Arkansas wounded at Shiloh
g grandchild of J. T. Harper, 5th Tenn. wounded at Shiloh