TOUGH question, and an interesting one !!!!!!!!!   You should check the "War Records" (online as "War of the Rebellion; Records of the Union and Congfederate Armies") to ascertain what state's troops were near WHERE the 8th VA was on the dates indicated in "Raleigh County, WV".  Then check the rosters of those states with nearby troops.  Do you know whether or not your soldier ever went back home"?   I would bet not, and where he settled after the war is a good place to check the census of 1870 for his name, following which you should check the roster of the troops of THAT state.  

Then too, I would check NARA.gov  for his service in both armies.  The form - NATF85, I think - is downloadable on the net.  For sure, check the rosters of the 8th VA for any clues that might be there.  "Where" your man was on that date should be ascertainable.  If he was in WV, I surely would check the Ohio, KY and PA rosters.  Tell us how you make out.  Paul   
  **********
  Again from Jim Wood's Book, "Raleigh County, West Virginia:"
  "Then they went straight to the Federal camps and joined the Union army.
  Dunbar said 47 men got to the Federal camps and several days later other men
  joined too. They were mustered into the 8th VA Regiment of Volunteer  infantry."
  Where might one find information on this Union regiment, especially a  roster
  of its soldiers? I have had no luck with Google's search  engine.
  Thank you in advance for any guidance. I look forward to hearing from  you.
  Sincerely,

  Mike  Peters
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