May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. May is a month of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and spring in the Northern Hemisphere (Summer in Europe). Therefore May in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of November in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa.
May symbols: The birthstone of May is the emerald which is emblematic of love and success. The May birth flower is the Lily of the Valley and the Crataegus monogyna. The mayflower Epigaea repens is a North American harbinger of May, and the floral emblem of both Nova Scotia and Massachusetts. Its native range extends from Newfoundland south to Florida, west to Kentucky in the southern range, and to Northwest Territories in the north. The zodiac signs for the month of May are Taurus (until May 20) and Gemini (May 21 onwards).
Historical Events for May, 1864
Day of Week 5th » American Civil War: The Battle of the Wilderness begins in Spotsylvania County, Virginia or Spotsylvania County.
Day of Week 7th » American Civil War: The Army of the Potomac, under General Ulysses S. Grant, breaks off from the Battle of the Wilderness and moves southwards.
Day of Week 9th » Second War of Schleswig: The Denmark Danish navy defeats the Austrian Empire Austrian and Kingdom of Prussia Prussian fleets in the Battle of Heligoland (1864) Battle of Heligoland.
Day of Week 10th » American Civil War: Colonel Emory Upton leads a 10-regiment "Attack-in-depth" assault against the Confederate works at The Battle of Spotsylvania, which, though ultimately unsuccessful, would provide the idea for the massive Benjamin T. Brockman Battle of
Day of Week 12th » American Civil War: The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House: Thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers die in "the Bloody Angle".
Day of Week 13th » American Civil War: Battle of Resaca the battle begins with Union (American Civil War) or Union General William Tecumseh Sherman or Sherman fighting toward Atlanta, Georgia.
Day of Week 15th » American Civil War: Battle of Resaca, Georgia (U.S. state) called Georgia ends.
15th » American Civil War: Battle of New Market, Virginia: Students from the Virginia Military Institute fight alongside the Confederate States of America known as Confederate Army to force Union (American Civil War) e.g Union General Franz Sigel out of the Shen
Day of Week 20th » American Civil War: Battle of Ware Bottom Church in the Virginia Bermuda Hundred Campaign, 10,000 troops fight in this Confederate victory.
Day of Week 21st » Russia declares an end to the Russian–Circassian War and many Circassians are forced into exile. The day is designated the Circassian Day of Mourning.
21st » American Civil War: the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House ends.
Day of Week 26th » Montana is organized as a Political divisions of the United States called United States territory.
Day of Week 29th » Emperor of Mexico named Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico arrives in Mexico for the first time.
Day of Week 31st » American Civil War Overland Campaign: Battle of Cold Harbor The Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee engages the Army of the Potomac under Ulysses S. Grant and George Meade.
Famous Birthdays on May in 1864
4th » Marie Booth, English daughter of William Booth e.g William and Catherine Booth (d. 1937)
5th » Nellie Bly, American journalist and author (d. 1922)
17th » Louis Richardet, Swiss target shooter (d. 1923)
17th » Ante Trumbić, Croatian politician, 27th Mayor of Split (d. 1938)