▁– ▁American ▁Civil ▁War ▁– ▁Capt ure ▁of ▁New ▁Orleans : ▁Forces ▁under ▁Union ▁Admir al ▁David ▁Far rag ut ▁occup y ▁the ▁Confeder ate ▁city ▁of ▁New ▁Orleans , ▁se cur ing ▁access ▁to ▁the ▁Mississippi ▁River . ▁ ▁April ▁ 2 6 ▁– ▁American ▁Civil ▁War ▁– ▁Sie ge ▁of ▁Fort ▁Ma con : ▁The ▁bes ie ged ▁Confeder ate ▁g arrison ▁at ▁Fort ▁Ma con , ▁North ▁Carolina ▁surr enders . ▁ ▁May ▁ 1 – Nov ember ▁ 1 ▁– ▁The ▁ 1 8 6 2 ▁International ▁Ex hib ition ▁is ▁held ▁at ▁South ▁K ens ington ▁in ▁London ; ▁it ▁is ▁particularly ▁not ew orth y ▁for ▁an ▁exhib it ▁from ▁Japan , ▁influ ential ▁in ▁the ▁development ▁of ▁Ang lo - J apan ese ▁style . ▁ ▁May ▁ 2 ▁– ▁The ▁California ▁State ▁Normal ▁School ▁( l ater ▁San ▁Jose ▁State ▁University ) ▁is ▁created ▁by ▁an ▁Act ▁of ▁the ▁California ▁Legisl ature . ▁ ▁May ▁ 5 ▁– ▁Second ▁French ▁inter vention ▁in ▁Mexico ▁– ▁Battle ▁of ▁P ue bla : ▁Mexican ▁General ▁Ig na cio ▁Zar ago za ▁defe ats ▁the ▁French ▁Army ; ▁comm emor ated ▁each ▁year ▁as ▁Cin co ▁de ▁May o ▁( Span ish ▁for ▁Fif th ▁of ▁May ). ▁ ▁May ▁ 1 1 ▁– ▁American ▁Civil ▁War : ▁The ▁iron cl ad ▁CSS ▁Virginia ▁is ▁sc utt led ▁in ▁the ▁James ▁River ▁north west ▁of ▁Nor folk , ▁Virginia . ▁ ▁May ▁ 1 5 ▁– ▁U .