Let me add one more to your list; Sherman's march to Meridian, Feb. 1864. This very large force skirted the northern edges of the piney wood area where the deserters took refuge, but the patrols and foraging parties fanned out in all directions far from Sherman's main force. If they intended to join the Union forces then that would have been an opportune time, since it is noted that this period is when largest portion of desertions began. The overall reason? The Confederate leadership did not put up a determined defense and let Sherman run amok deep inside Mississippi. This gave Sherman the formula for his march on Atlanta.