I will again suspect that sometime after the muster roll was taken in which he was recorded AWOL, his First Sergeant received word believing he had gone to the Cavalry, and so added to the muster record. There's nothing in his file that I found recording his death. This information must have come the the Virginia Series book on his regiment.

There are some 11 John Bakers listed in Virginia Cavalry Units. Would you be aware of a middle initial which could narrow the search?

John Baker

Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 4/17/1861 at Augusta County, VA as a Private.
On 5/25/1861 he mustered into "D" Co. VA 5th Infantry
He was Dropped from rolls on 11/12/1862
(Dropped as a deserter)
He was listed as:
* Hospitalized 1/8/1862 Winchester, VA
Other Information:
died in 1863
(Southern Guard, 1860)

Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- The Virginia Regimental Histories Series

..............

John Baker, age 19, Private, Capt. H. J. Williams' Company (Southern Guard), 5th Regiment Virginia Infantry,* enlisted April 17, 1861 in Augusta County by H. J. Williams for 12 months, recorded on October 31, 1861 as absent, on detail service, present at the end of the year, admitted to hospital January 18, 1862, recorded October 31, 1862 as Absent without leave since?? April 17, 1862. Now in Cavalry service, recorded December 31, 1862 as Deserted and dropped from the roll, no further records

* This company subsequently became Company D, 5th Virginia Infantry

The regiment was re-organized April 21, 1862

M324: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia