Tranquilla of Marietta, 1892, GWTW?

Tranquilla, above, was owned by Andrew Jackson Hansell. He went off to fight with the CSA in the Civil War. His wife, Mrs. Hansell, refused to leave Tranquilla. A group of Yankees came through and threatened her. She pulled out her gun and said she would kill the first man to take a step towards her.

Years later, before GONE WITH THE WIND was written, Margaret Mitchell visited Tranquilla with the owners of that time. Was the Mrs.Hansell story handed down with the heritage of the house. Did that inpire the staircase scene in GWTW?