1. On March 5, 1864, Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest led his troops in a surprise attack on Union soldiers stationed in Memphis, Tennessee. The attack resulted in a Confederate victory and a significant blow to the Union's control over the Mississippi River.

2. On March 5, 1913, a tornado struck Hattiesburg, Mississippi, causing significant damage and claiming the lives of at least 38 people. The tornado had a path of destruction that was nearly 2 miles wide and caused damage to over 300 buildings.

3. On March 5, 1933, the first Civilian Conservation Corps camp was established in Mississippi. The CCC was a federal program designed to provide employment and conservation opportunities for young men during the Great Depression.

4. On March 5, 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers delivered a speech at Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi. Evers was the first field secretary for the Mississippi NAACP and worked tirelessly to secure voting rights for African Americans.

5. On March 5, 1970, the Mississippi Legislature passed a bill to rename the state's public universities. The University of Mississippi was renamed to the University of Mississippi, and Mississippi State University was renamed to Mississippi State University. The bill was part of a larger effort to rebrand the state and improve its image in the wake of the civil rights movement.