October 10, 732 - Frankish and Muslim forces clash at the Battle of Tours. Moving north in 732, Muslim forces led by Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi proceeded to sack Aquitaine. To the north, the Frankish Mayor of the Palace, Charles Martel mobilized his army to meet the threat. Marching to position near Tours, Martel selected a high, wooded plain which would force the Umayyad cavalry to charge uphill. Forming a large square, his men surprised Abdul Rahman, forcing the Umayyad emir to pause for a week to consider his options. On October 10, the emir attacked Martel's position and was repeated repulsed. In the meantime, some of Martel's men infiltrated the Muslim camp. This led a large segment of Rahman's army to break off the battle in order to protect their plunder. Pursued by the Franks, the Muslim army was driven from the field. The victory at Tours marked the end of the Muslim invasions in northwestern Europe and preserved Christianity in the region.

October 8, 1862 - Union and Confederate forces meet in the Battle of Perryville. In August 1862, Gen. Braxton Bragg (left) began moving north with the goal of invading Kentucky. To block this thrust, the Union Army of the Ohio, led by Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell, raced north prevent the capture of Louisville. Beating the Confederates to the city, the two armies encountered each other to the west of Perryville. While both commanders wished to avoid a general engagement, fighting broke out as units from each side attempted to gather water. Attacking the Union position throughout the day, Bragg's men were able to force the Union troops back numerous times, but were unable to break their line. At dusk, with Union forces in a strong defensive position, Bragg broke off the engagement. Alerted to additional Union troops approaching from the southwest, which could severe his supply lines, he elected to fall back to Tennessee.

Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives & Records Administration

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