May 1863

Friday 01:

American Civil War: The Battle of Chancellorsville begins – Union forces under Major General Joseph Hooker begin to fight Confederate troops commanded by General Robert E. Lee (Union defeat).

Monday 04:

American Civil War: Battle of Chancellorsville – The battle ends with a Union retreat.

Wednesday 06:

American Civil War: The Battle of Chancellorsville ends, with a defeat of the Army of the Potomac under General Joseph Hooker by Confederate troops under Stonewall Jackson.

Thursday 14:

American Civil War: Battle of Jackson (MS).

Sunday 17:

Rosalía de Castro publishes Cantares Gallegos, her first book in the Galician language.

Monday 18:

American Civil War: The Siege of Vicksburg begins, ending on July 4).

Thursday 21:

American Civil War: Siege of Port Hudson – Union forces begin to lay siege to the Confederate-controlled Port Hudson, Louisiana.

Thursday 28:

American Civil War: The 54th Massachusetts, the first African American regiment, leaves Boston, Massachusetts, to fight for the Union.