By the early summer of 1864, General Sherman is attempting to cross the Georgia border but is being held at bay by Confederate forces. The citizens of Atlanta experience a brief sense of euphoria because they believe that their town is unbreachable. As supplies dwindle, Aunt Pittypat orders the old rooster to be slaughtered for dinner and invites guests to share in the bounty. These include Dr. Meade’s family. Rhett arrives unexpectedly and is asked to stay, but the atmosphere is tense. After the meal, the talk turns to the war. Rhett contradicts Dr. Meade’s view that Atlanta is invulnerable, once again garnering the hostility of the local patriots.

In the days that follow, Sherman creeps further south by taking an indirect route. The Confederacy is hard-pressed and forced to retreat: “Fight and fall back! Fight and fall back! For seventy miles and twenty-five days the Confederates had fought almost daily” (384). With more wounded being sent to Atlanta for care, Scarlett is exhausted from days at the hospital. One afternoon, she can’t stand the carnage any longer and runs from the building. Seeing Rhett in his carriage, she orders him to take her for a drive to get away from the horrors of war.