I remember in the book, but not in the movie, where Scarlett saw a Yankee coming up to her house. She got her husband's pistol (no details in the book) and hid it in the folds of her skirt. When the yankee barged into the house and got threatening with her, she raised the pistol and shot him in the face.
She had a heck of a time convincing shy and retiring little Melanie to help her drag the messed-up body outside and bury it, along with the blood-soaked carpet on which the yankee's body had fallen.
No, she didn't always rely on the kindness of strangers.
I don't recall what she and Melanie did with the guy's horse and tack.
Terry