Ashley foreshadows the same end to the war that Rhett has been foreshadowing. The women at home all believe that the Confederates are doing well because the men lie and tell them so, but the truth, according to Ashley, is that the South is losing. Ashley is willing to tell Scarlett this because he thinks she can handle the news—unlike with Melanie, he doesn’t feel like he ha to protect Scarlett. He also has a vague fear about what will happen after the war, but it doesn’t involve his death.