May 1862

Monday 05:

Cinco de Mayo in Mexico: Troops led by Ignacio Zaragoza halted a French invasion in the Battle of Puebla.

Sunday 11:

American Civil War: The ironclad CSS Virginia is scuttled in the James River northwest of Norfolk, Virginia.

Monday 12:

U.S federal troops occupy Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Thursday 15:

President Abraham Lincoln signs a bill into law creating the United States Bureau of Agriculture (later renamed USDA).

Tuesday 20:

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act into law.

Saturday 31:

American Civil War: The Battle of Seven Pines.