Melanie (Hamilton) Wilkes Timeline & Summary

Melanie marries her cousin Ashley Wilkes just as the Civil War begins.
She goes to Atlanta to stay with her relatives during the war.
Charles Hamilton, her brother, dies, and his widow, Scarlett, comes to stay with Melanie in Atlanta.
Ashley visits Atlanta on leave and Melanie becomes pregnant.
Melanie learns that Ashley has been captured by the Union; Atlanta then falls to the Union just as Melanie is having her baby.
Scarlett delivers the baby and takes Melanie with her son to Scarlett's home at Tara.
Melanie stays at Tara; eventually the war ends.
Ashley is released and comes to live at Tara as well.
Scarlett moves to Atlanta. She marries and goes into business, sending money back to support everyone at Tara.
Ashley and Melanie plan to move north, but Scarlett asks Ashley to manage one of her mills, so Melanie and Ashley move to Atlanta.
Melanie becomes a leader of Atlanta society.
Ashley and Scarlett are caught embracing. Despite the fact that various people tell her they saw the deed, Melanie does not believe them, and supports Scarlett.
Melanie becomes pregnant. She dies in childbirth asking Scarlett to take care of Ashley and her son.