Gone with the Wind: Chapter 18 Summary & Analysis

The fighting is so close that people in Atlanta can hear gunshots. People try to ignore it and pretended not to be afraid. They relieve their anxiety by criticizing General Johnston. When the Home Guard is dispatched to join the battle, Scarlett and Melanie leave the hospital to watch them depart. Old Grandpa Merriwether and Uncle Henry Hamilton are with the Home Guard. The rest of the group are young boys, such as Phil Meade, who left school to join the army. Most of the men are unarmed.

As they pass, Scarlett recognizes Mose, Ashley’s old bodyguard. She fights through the crowd asks what he’s doing there. Mose explains that he’s going to the war with John Wilkes. Scarlett is shocked. John Wilkes is nearly 70. Then she sees John on Mrs. Tarleton’s mare, Nellie. Scarlett clasps his hand, telling him not to go. John says that Gerald almost came with him today, but his horse was refusing to jump fences as if conspiring with Ellen to keep Gerald home. John sent India and Honey to Macon and left Gerald to oversee Twelve Oaks. He kisses Scarlett and departs, saying wistfully that he would have liked to see his grandchild. As she returns to the hospital, Scarlett realizes he just hinted at his death, like Ashley had. She prays the war will not take John too.

The Confederates hold the Yankees at Kennesaw Mountain, making people in Atlanta hopeful. Refugees and wounded soldiers crowd the city, and young ladies from nearby towns come to flirt with them. The busyness of the war times often makes Scarlett forget she has a son at all. There are endless parties and weddings. Everyone celebrates while Johnston holds the Yankees 22 miles away—though soon after, an attack by General Sherman makes the Confederates retreat to Atlanta. A General Hood is appointed to take Sherman’s place, but the soldiers are still loyal to Johnston. Soon after, the Yankees capture the railroad that connects Atlanta, Virginia, and Charleston.

General Hood assaults the Yankees at Peachtree Creek. Atlanta listens to the cannons. By late afternoon, Confederate soldiers stumble into town, wounded and exhausted. Miss Pitty, Scarlett, and Melanie tend tirelessly to the wounded in their house. Little Wade hangs frightened in the background as wagons bring wounded and dying men into town. Melanie, Scarlett, and Pittypat pour water into their dry mouths. They question the soldiers about who won, but they all say it is too soon to tell. By the end of the day, Scarlett is filthy, and the whole thing seems like a nightmare. Scarlett’s former beaus are completely transfigured or dead. As the night wears on, the women learn that the soldiers retreated. The Yankees are coming.

The defeated army pours into Atlanta. Grandpa Merriwether and Uncle Henry return to Atlanta with the Home Guard, but Scarlett sees no sign of John Wilkes. The soldiers are cheerful, as they believe that Old that Old Joe will never let the Yankees take Atlanta. General Hood holds back the circling Yankees, but they keep coming back for more. Sherman takes control of the railroad between Tennessee and Atlanta, and the Confederates fight to hold the railroad to Jonesboro. Scarlett realizes with terror that Tara—which seemed like a safe haven compared to Atlanta—is only 5 miles from Jonesboro.

The ladies in Atlanta sit on the roofs watching the nearby fighting, but when bullets start to fall in the streets, they hide in their basements. Many of them consider leaving Atlanta. Miss Pitty wants to go to Macon to stay with Old Mrs. Burr, but Scarlett refuses; Mrs. Burr is too uptight. Melanie refuses to go anywhere without Scarlett. Scarlett can’t believe how much Melanie loves her, seeing as Scarlett hates Melanie so much. She thinks Melanie is stupid not to pick up on Scarlett and Ashley’s secret. But Scarlett doesn’t want to break her promise to Ashley, so she says Melanie can come with her to Tara. However, Dr. Meade insists that Melanie must stay in Atlanta due to her pregnancy. He insists she’s too small to have children. So Miss Pitty leaves for Macon while Scarlett, Melanie, Wade, and Prissy stay in Atlanta.