Well over ninety percent of its acreage being virgin woodland, Jones County would make a natural refuge for deserters. They could have been members of any Confederate command stationed in Mississippi, or any unit raised in Mississippi. Deserters usually foraged off nearby farms, making life difficult for residents of Jones County. Families who had soldiers in the army were among the most vulnerable. It's unfortunate that the reputation of Jones County has been denigrated by men from other places.