1. On May 12, 1863, the Battle of Raymond took place in Raymond, Mississippi during the American Civil War. The battle is notable for being the first engagement of General Ulysses S. Grant's Vicksburg Campaign.

2. In 1904, the celebrated author Eudora Welty was born in Jackson, Mississippi on May 12. Welty became known for her short stories and novel, and received numerous awards throughout her career including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

3. Randall Pinkston, a journalist and news anchor, was born in Jackson, Mississippi on May 12, 1950. Pinkston worked for CBS News and Al Jazeera America during his career, and won several awards for his reporting.

4. On May 12, 1840, a devastating tornado struck Natchez, Mississippi causing extensive damage and killing at least 317 people. The event is remembered as one of the deadliest tornadoes in American history.

5. In 2008, the Mississippi State Senate passed a bill on May 12 recognizing the contributions of Native Americans in the state. The bill designated the Friday after Thanksgiving as "Mississippi Indian Heritage Day" in honor of the state's Native American community.