1. In 1872, Samuel Mathews formed the first African American cavalry unit in Texas. Known as the "Buffs," the unit served with distinction during the Indian Wars and the Spanish-American War.

2. On April 5, 1951, Willie Mays made his minor league debut for the Minneapolis Millers against the St. Paul Saints. Mays went on to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.

3. The Texas Rangers were officially organized on April 5, 1836. Originally designed to patrol the frontier and protect settlers from Indian attacks, the Rangers became known for their bravery and toughness, and played a key role in many of the defining events of Texas history.

4. In 1982, an explosion at the Williams Olefins chemical plant in Pasadena, Texas killed 23 people and injured over 130 others. The blast was caused by a runaway chemical reaction that ignited a cloud of flammable gas, and resulted in the largest industrial disaster in the history of the Houston area.

5. On April 5, 1864, a group of Union soldiers led by Colonel Samuel P. Banks attacked the Confederate garrison at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana as part of the Red River Campaign. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the Confederates managed to repel the Union assault and inflict heavy casualties, effectively ending the campaign and marking a significant victory for the South.