General Joseph Hooker had called a halt to his advance of the previous day with the aim of encouraging a Confederate attack that could be repulsed from entrenched positions in the woods of "the Wilderness." He got more than he had bargained for when a brilliant flanking movement by General "Stonewall" Jackson destroyed General Otis Howard's XI Corps on the Union right in the early evening. (By John Osborne)

The Army of the Potomac under General Joseph Hooker moved forward against Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in the morning. Confederate forces were also moving towards Chancellorsville on the attack and the two armies collided in the hour before noon.  The Union divisions had the better of the afternoon engagement but Hooker called a halt to the advance to dig in for the night with the aim of encouraging a Confederate attack that could be repulsed from entrenched positions in the woods of "the Wilderness."  (By John Osborne)

After thirty-two false starts, the 1863 Epsom Derby, first run in 1780, was completed in a steady rain that made going exceptionally heavy.  Macaroni, ridden by Tom Challoner and trained by James Godding, made a late run and overhauled race favorite Lord Clifton at the post by a head.  Rapid Rhone was third, half a length back. The one and a half mile race had winnings of £7,200 and Macaroni paid nine to one odds. (By John Osborne)

The small village of Damerham in western Hampshire was almost completely burned to the ground after a fire began in one of the cottages in the early afternoon.  Twenty-seven homes were destroyed along with farm buildings on the edge of the hamlet.  Most of the buildings had thatched roofs and were easily caught up in the flames.  Thanks mainly to the hour of the disaster, no-one was killed or seriously injured.  (By John Osborne)

The five o'clock express left Brighton station for London with passengers that included a contingent of Grenadier Guards.  Falling behind schedule, the engineer increased speed until the boiler on the locomotive burst and derailed the entire train near Streathham on the outskirts of London,  The driver, two soldiers, and a female civilian were killed outright and scores others injured.  (By John Osborne)