Gone with the Wind: Chapter 16 Summary & Analysis

January and February of 1864 are gloomy. The Yankees break through the Southern line and take control of Tennessee. However, the South is still hopeful. Thanks to Atlanta’s railroads, the South celebrates one victory—but still, it’s impossible to ignore that the Yankees are good fighters. They also have great generals, though none as good as Lee.

The war drags on, killing, wounding, and leaving many widows. The South starts to distrust President Davis. Army supplies and soldiers are dangerously short, but the governors refuse to send the home militia troops. At home, prices for food and warm clothing are high. People wear cardboard shoes and pants made from old scarves. The North holds the South in a virtual state of siege and blocks up ports. The South lived on selling cotton, and now, with no passage open to England, the richest planters—such as Gerald—become poor. Everyone hates speculators like Rhett Butler. Despite all this, Atlanta’s population increases, and it’s still the hub of the South.

Scarlett doesn’t care about these hardships because she only cares about Ashley, and he isn’t here. She’s happy because she knows he loves her. She decides that when the war is over, Ashley will get divorced, and although her parents will disown her, she’ll marry him. Ashley said the Yankees had won, but Scarlett doesn’t believe him. She thinks everything will be alright somehow.

One day, Melanie comes into Scarlett’s room and announces shyly that she is pregnant. The news pains Scarlett. She pictures those nights when Ashley shut the bedroom door behind him and Melanie. She felt as though Ashley has been unfaithful to her. Melanie babbles on about how wonderful the news is. Scarlett shouts at her to hush. Upset with herself, Melanie apologizes for forgetting that Charles is dead and reminds herself that Scarlett is grieving. Scarlett asks Melanie to leave her alone.

Scarlett decides she can’t live in a house where another woman is having Ashley’s baby. The next morning, she decides to go back to Tara. But, at breakfast, a telegram comes from Ashley’s servant Mose saying that Ashley is missing. A note from Ashley’s colonel confirms Mose’s report. Scarlett tries to pray. Melanie says that Scarlett is all she has now, and they cry together in bed. Melanie whispers that at least she has Ashley’s baby. Scarlett is too distraught to be jealous. All she has is the look Ashley gave her when he left.

The next day, Ashley’s name appears in the casualty list as “Missing—believed killed” and then “Missing—believed captured.” Melanie hangs around the telegraph office, waiting for news. Because she’s pregnant, she tires more easily. One afternoon, Rhett Butler witnesses her faint and brings her home. He settles her into bed and asks if she’s going to have a baby. She nods, and he says she needs to take care of herself. He offers to go to Washington and find out where Ashley is. Melanie is grateful but also ashamed for discussing her pregnancy with him. She cries, and Rhett pats her hand.

Rhett finds out that Ashley is a prisoner at Rock Island, in Illinois. Melanie and Scarlett are relieved, but then afraid—Rock Island is an infamous prison where the Union is starving Confederate prisoners to pay back the South for treating Union prisoners badly. Most of the prisoners at Rock Island don’t survive. Has Ashley died from neglect? Rhett says Ashley had a chance to escape—he could’ve sworn an oath to fight with the Union against the Indians, but he refused. Scarlett is upset that he refused, but Melanie is glad. She couldn’t respect him if he betrayed the Confederate army. Scarlett says she knows Rhett would’ve saved himself. Rhett smirks. He would’ve agreed to fight for the Union, but he isn’t a “gentleman” like Ashley.