Confederate forces under Colonel Henry H. Sibley had occupied Tucson, Arizona eighty days before.  A withdrawal was ordered on May 14, 1862 and six days later elements of the First California Volunteer Cavalry retook the town without firing a shot. Retreating Confederate forces soon reached Texas, ending Sibley's abortive invasion of Arizona.  (By John Osborne)  

Edward Stanly, a former congressman from North Carolina who had moved to California where he had been an unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor, was appointed as military governor of eastern North Carolina with the rank of brigadier general.  He was authorized sweeping powers, including the suspension of habeus corpus. He served less than a year before resigning in March 1863 over the Emancipation Proclamation and returning to California.  (By John Osborne) 

Recruiting for the Union Army had been deliberately reduced in the early months of the year but the recent military operations and resultant casualties were beginning to tell on unit strenghts.  Governor Richard Yates of Illinois issued a proclamation that stated that many of the state's regiments were below complement and called for patriots to enlist.  (By John Osborne) 

Commander S. Phillips Lee, U.S.N. sent demands for Vicksburg's surrender to its civilian and military government.  Mayor Lazarus Linsey replied that "neither the municipal authorities nor the citizens will consent to surrender the city."  The local military commander was more direct, saying that Mississippians did not know how to surrender and if Union commanders can teach them "let them come and try."  Vicksburg did not fall till July 1863.  (By John Osborne)

The Union Navy steam  transport Oriental, 210 feet long and 1,202 tons, was lost off the North Carolina coast, three miles from the Oregon Inlet.  She had left New York the day before with stores and 75 passengers and ran aground near midnight.  All aboard, including the new Department of the South commander Brigadier General Rufus Saxton, survived.  The wreck today is a popular destination for beginning scuba divers. (By John Osborne)

The U.S. Navy commander in the area, Captain Henry Eagle, informed the Confederates forces in Galveston that overwhelming naval forces would soon appear off the city and demanded its surrender to prevent "effusion of blood and destruction of property."  The Confederate commander replied that he would take the matter up once the promised fleet actually arrived.  Union forces did not force Galveston's surrender till October 1862 and then only briefly.  The port remained in Confederate hands for the rest of the war.  (By John Osborne)