May 1864

Thursday 05:

American Civil War: The Battle of the Wilderness begins in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

Saturday 07:

American Civil War: The Army of the Potomac, under General Ulysses S. Grant, breaks off from the Battle of the Wilderness and moves southwards.

Wednesday 11:

American Civil War: Battle of Yellow Tavern – Confederate General JEB Stuart is mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern, Virginia.

Thursday 12:

American Civil War: Battle of Spotsylvania Court House: Thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers die in "the Bloody Angle".

Friday 13:

American Civil War: Battle of Resaca – the battle begins with Union General Sherman fighting toward Atlanta.

Sunday 15:

American Civil War: Battle of New Market, Virginia – Students from the Virginia Military Institute fight alongside the Confederate Army to force Union General Franz Sigel out of the Shenandoah Valley.

Thursday 19:

American Civil War: Battle of Spotsylvania Court House ends.

Friday 20:

In the Virginia Bermuda Hundred Campaign, 10,000 troops fight in this Confederate victory.

Thursday 26:

Montana is organized as a United States territory.

Sunday 29:

Emperor Maximilian of Mexico arrives in Mexico for the first time.

Tuesday 31:

American Civil War: The Battle of Cold Harbor begins.