the confederates lose at the battle of gettysburg, and union troops start entering the city of atlanta. at the same time, scarlett helps melanie give birth to a child. they and rhett flee the city. rhett returns to the fighting, and scarlett, melanie and prissy return to tara. the place is a wasteland. the slaves mammy and pork, her father, and two sisters are there. scarlett promises to make sure her family survives.