05May

Washington: On May 19, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton directed that Ohio Congressman Clement Vallandigham be sent outside of Federal military boundaries and not be allowed to return; this was on Lincoln's orders. On May 22, Lincoln met with convalescing soldiers at the White House and commented that the men on crutches were orators, with their very appearance speaking louder than tongues. On May 29, General Burnside proffered his resignation as commander of the Department of the Ohio because Lincoln had rescinded Burnside's order that Vallandigham be imprisoned, but Lincoln refused to accept the resignation.

Eastern theater: The last major engagement was the Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862.

On May 1, the Battle of Chancellorsville began; Hooker began by engaging Lee's troops, but the Federals soon pulled back allowing Lee to take the offensive. The day ended with Hooker's troops gathered in dense undergrowth known as the Virginia Wilderness. Fighting continued the next day. Late on the second, General Stonewall Jackson took his corps past Hooker's right flank, concluding the maneuver with a devastating attack. Hooker's distress was increased as Lee attacked the Federal left, firing into Meade's men. The Federals dispursed and fell back toward Chancellorsville. However, Stonewall Jackson was accidentally shot in the arm by his own men, and General A.P. Hill was also wounded. On May 3, fighting continued with Hooker pulling back to Chancellor's House; late in the day, Hooker ordered General Sedgwick to fire on Southern forces at Fredericksburg in a fight that came to be known as Second Fredericksburg. This attack at first gained ground, but the Federals were halted by Lee at Salem Church. The battle ended on the fourth when Lee continued to push Hooker back, forcing the Army of the Potomac to cross the Rappahannock late in the evening. On May 6, General A.P. Hill was placed in charge of Jackson's II Corps. Jackson, who's injured arm had been amputated, later developed pneumonia and died on May 10. There was little action for the rest of the month as Lincoln struggled with his concern for leadership in the Army of the Potomac.

The next major engagement will be the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1 to 3, 1863.

Western theater: The last major engagement was the Battle of Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862.

On May 1, General McClernand's Union troops advanced on Fort Gibson, pushing steadily forward and helping to clear the way for Grant to march on Vicksburg. On the third, the Confederates evacuated Grand Gulf, Mississippi, in the face of Grant's advance. In the following days, Grant contined to move towards Vicksburg. On May 14, Grant attacked and captured Jackson, Mississippi. May 16 saw the Battle of Champion's Hill, or Baker's Creed, Mississippi, between Grant and Pemberton. At some cost, the North finally took Champion's Hill in the most severe fighting of the Vicksburg campaign. Thereafter, Grant continued his effort to reach the Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi. It may be said that the siege of Vicksburg began on May 18. Grant attacked the city on May 19 and May 22, but found the Confederate defenders stout. On May 25th, Grant attempted to breach the defenses by detonating 2,200 pounds of gunpowder in a tunnel dug near the city, but the effort failed. The month of May ended with Grant surrounding and strangling the Confederates caught in Vicksburg.

The next major engagement was the siege of Vicksburg, which began in May and which will end on July 4, 1863.

Source: The Civil War Day By Day, edited by John S. Bowman, 1989.