Wednesday, May 6, 1863
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| Operation: | Baltimore and Ohio Railroad | April 21 - May 31, 1863 | Scout: | Bates County, MO | May 3 - 11, 1863 | Expedition to: | Bear River, Idaho Territory | May 5 - 30, 1863 | Skirmish: | Birch Island Bridges, VA | May 6, 1863 | Skirmish: | Bruinsburg Landing, MS | May 6, 1863 | Expedition to: | Burnsville, AL | May 2 - 8, 1863 | Expedition from: | Camp Douglass, Utah Territory | May 5 - 30, 1863 | Scout: | Cass County, MO | May 3 - 11, 1863 | Campaign: | Chancellorsville, VA | April 29 - May 6, 1863 | Expedition from: | Corinth, MS | April 15 - May 8, 1863 | Expedition to: | Courtland, AL | April 15 - May 8, 1863 | Scout: | Creek Agency, Indian Territory | May 6 - 19, 1863 | Operation: | Eastern Shore, VA | August 20 - June 3, 1863 | Expedition from: | Fort Scott, KS | May 5 - 9, 1863 | Operation: | Gloucester Peninsula, VA | August 20, 1862 - June 4, 1863 | Scout: | Hampshire County, WV | May 4 - 9, 1863 | Expedition: | Imboden's Expedition, into West Virginia | April 20 - May 14, 1863 | Scout: | Jasper County, MO | May 6 - 19, 1863 | Raid: | Jones' Raid | April 21 - May 31, 1863 | Scout: | La Grange, TN | April 29 - May 6, 1863 | Expedition to: | Monticello, KY | April 26 - May 12, 1863 | Raid: | Northwestern Railroad, TN | April 21 - May 21, 1863 | Operation: | Owen's Valley, CA | April 24 - May 26, 1863 | Scout: | Sherwood, MO | May 5 - 9, 1863 | Expedition against: | Snake Indians, Idaho Territory | May 4 - October 26, 1863 | Expedition to: | Soda Springs, Idaho Territory | May 5 - 30, 1863 | Operation: | Southeastern Kentucky | April 26 - May 12, 1863 | Scout: | St. Francis River, AR | May 6 - 15, 1863 | Raid: | Stoneman's Raid, VA | April 29 - May 7, 1863 | Skirmish: | Strasburg, VA | May 6, 1863 | Expedition to: | Tennessee State Line | May 2 - 6, 1863 | Expedition to: | Tupelo, MS | May 2 - 8, 1863 | Operation: | Vicksburg, MS | January 20 - July 4, 1863 | Skirmish: | Waitsborough, KY | May 6, 1863 | Skirmish: | Warrenton, VA | May 6, 1863 | Skirmish: | West Union, WV | May 6, 1863 | Campaign: | Western Louisiana | April 9 - May 14, 1863 | Scout: | White River, AR | May 6 - 15, 1863 |
| Appointment: | Major General Ambrose Powell Hill, CSA, is assigned command of the 2nd Army Corps, Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, replacing the mortally wounded Lieutenant General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson, now at Guiney's Station, Virginia | ||
(Source: Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Vol. I, p. 660-991. Frederick H. Dyer; The Chronological Tracking Of The American Civil War Per The Offical Records Of The War of the Rebellion pp. 1-336. Ronald A. Mosocco.)
Naval Events:
Union gunboats under Lieutenant Commander Selfridge, protecting steamers from guerrilla activity in the Greenville, Mississippi, vicinity, responded quickly when such action required it. On 2 May steamer Era was fired upon 3 miles above Greenville. U.S.S. Cricket, commanded by Acting Lieutenant Amos R. Langthorne, engaged the Confederate battery and then convoyed steamer Champion downstream the following day. In Cricket's absence, steamer Minnesota was destroyed by Southern guerrilla troops. U.S.S. Conestoga drove the force away and remained in the area until the evening of the 7th, when, after coaling U.S.S. Cricket and Rattler, she returned to the mouth of the White River. Next day, Selfridge ordered U.S.S. General Bragg to "destroy the property in the vicinity of the recent firing upon the gunboat Cricket and transport Minnesota." On the 9th this order was carried out and "houses etc. . . . affording a protection to the enemy" were destroyed, after which the Union ships returned to their normal stations.(Source: Civil War Naval Chronology 1861-1865. pp. I:1-41; II:1-117; III:1-170; IV:1-152; V:1-134. 1971: Naval History Division, Navy Department.)Commander North, CSN, wrote Secretary Mallory from Scotland regarding ships being built in England: "For the first time I begin to fear that our vessels stand in much danger of being seized by this Government. I have written to our minister in France to know if this ship can be put under the French flag; this will involve some expense, but shall not consider a few thousand pounds . . . if we can only succeed in getting out . . . aiding to raise the blockade and making captures of some of their vessels, which may prove valuable additions to our little navy."
Rear Admiral Dahlgren noted in his private journal: "Captain Drayton came in about suppertime from New York, where he had brought the Passaic from Port Royal. He says it would be madness to go into Charleston again, and all the Captains who were in the action so agree fully. He thinks Dupont intended to renew the attack, but when the Captains of the iron-clads assembled in his ship, and made their reports, he gave it up."
C.S.S. Florida, commanded by Lieutenant Maffitt, captured brig Clarence off the coast of Brazil. Clarence was converted into a Confederate cruiser under Lieutenant Charles Read who wrote: "I propose to take the brig which we have just captured, and with a crew of twenty men to proceed to Hampton Roads and cut out a gunboat or steamer of the enemy." Maffitt concurred with the daring plan and ordered Clarence to raid Union shipping at either Hampton Roads or Baltimore.
U.S.S. R. R. Cuyler, commanded by Lieutenant Commander James E. Jouett, captured steamer Eugenie bound from Havana to Mobile.
U.S.S. Dragon, commanded by Acting Master G. E. Hill, seized schooner Samuel First attempting to run the blockade above Potomac Creek, Virginia.
Additional Information:
Major General Joseph Hooker, USA, and his Federal Army of the Potomac retreat across the Rappahannock River after his defeat during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia.
(Source: A Concise Encyclopedia of the Civil War, p. 203-221. Henry E. Simmons 1965; The Chronological Tracking Of The American Civil War Per The Offical Records Of The War of the Rebellion pp. 1-336. Ronald A. Mosocco.)