A clan battle fought between the Camerons and the MacIntoshes with
a little help from the Davidsons and MacPhersons was but one story recorded by
Calum Maclean on the 9th of June, 1952, from Willie MacKillop, a retired baker
then aged 75, from Laggan, Badenoch:
The clan battle at Inch is well enough known,
but what led up to it is not so well known. That was namely the battle of
Eilean na h-Abhann fought in the vicinity of the junction of the Truim and the
Spey. And strange to say, though this battle took place a matter of about seven
hundred years ago that the mark of the graves are still to be found on the
ground quite clearly – quite clearly to be seen after that long period, where
the dead of that battle was buried. The Camerons raided the cattle of the
MacIntoshes on the Spey and the MacPhersons and the Davidsons rallied to their
help. The usual dispute took place as to who was to be on the right hand of MacIntosh.
And as he gave the position to the Davidsons, the MacPhersons withdrew to the
north side of the Spey and stood watching the fight. The MacIntoshes and the
Davidsons were defeated and, I suppose, their cattle would be driven off. They
were down further down the Spey to the south side. I expect they would be
placed up in what is now, known as Milton of Nuide and, of course, set on what
is now the wooded hill of Briagach. And the Macphersons perhaps knowing that
they had a good deal of cattle with them followed them and struck their blow in
the early dawn and chased the Camerons right back to Lochaber. And the names [of]
all the hills and burns were known by the names of [the] many who fell on these
rear guard fights that took place as the survivors of the Camerons were making
their escape by Loch Erichtside.
The
above account covers all of the salient points about the battle and also
mentions that it led to the Battle of the North Inch which took place at Perth
in 1396. A fuller version given below was printed in Cuairtear nan Gleann from the pen of a Badenoch native. More
details are given and when the MacIntosh decided to insult the MacPhersons into
supporting him in his fight against the Camerons, the phrase that since became
proverbial is given. There is also a Tarintinoesque scenario given when both
archers face one another and fired simultaneously thereby killing one another.
Agus
seo na sgrìobh ‘S.’, cuideigin a bhuineas do Bhàideanach fhèin, mu dhèidhinn a’
bhaiteil a bha seo:
Chuireadh
am blar ainmeil so, mu’m bheil sinn an dràsda gu eachdraidh aithghearr thoirt
seachad, o cheann teann air cùig ceud bliadlina. Tha an t-àite anns an do
chuireadh e ann an siorramachd Inbhirneis; agus faodar ’fhaicinn o’n rathad mhòr
leò-san a bhios a’ siubhal troimh Bhàideanach. Tha e thall mu choinneamh na
creige mòire gruamaich ris an abrar crag Dhubh, fagus do’n chrìch eadar
sgìreachd Lagain agus sgìreachd Cinn-a’-ghiùsaich, far am bheil an Spé agus
Truim a’ coinneachadh a cheile.
B’ iad
Clann Mhuireich, Clann an Tòiseich, Clann Dhaibhidh, agus Clann Chamshroin na
fineachan a bha ’s a’ chomhraig so, agus bha ’n t-aobbar o ’n d’ éirich a’
chomh-strì ni-eiginn mar leanas:─Bha fearann aig Mac-an-Tòiseich ann an
Lochabar, mar tha aige fathasd; agus aig an àm sin, an uair bha gnothuichean
air an deanamh le làmhachas làidir, a chionn ’s nach robh lagh no binn a’ cur
eagail air daoinibh, bha na Camshronaich, a bha ’n an tuathanaich air
oighreachd Mhic-an-Tòiseich, air uairibh a’ diùltadh a’ mhàil a phàigheadh dha.
Co dhiùbh bha iad ’s a’ chòir no ’s an eucoir ann bhi cumail a nach nach robh
na bha e tagradh dligheach dha fhaotainn theagamh nach ’eil e nise glé fhurasd
a dhearbhadh. Ach bha so ’n a aobhar strì agus cònsachaidh eutorra ’s an àm. Mu
dbeireadh thug Mac-an-Tòiseich air falbh cuid do chrodh na tuatha mar aicheamhail,
agus is e so bu cheann-fàth do bhlàr Inbhir-na-h-Amhann. Chuir na Camshronaich
rompa gu’n cuireadh iad dioghaltas an gnìomh air Mac-an-Tòiseich air son an
cuid feudalach. Thionail iad féin agus na ghabhadh am pàirt, thog iad orra fo ’n
armaibh, agus dh’ imich iad air an aghaidh gus an d’ thàinig iad gu Inbhir-na-h-Amhann.
Air do Mhac-an-Tòiseich fios a bhi aige gu’n robh na Camshronaich a’ tighinn,
chruinnich e a chuid sluaigh, agus rinn e deas gu garbh chòmhdhail a thoirt dhoibh.
Bha Clann Mhuireich, agus Clann Dhaibhidh le chéile gu bhi còmhnadh nan
Tòiseach an aghaidh nan Camshronach; ach dìreach ’n uair bha iad gu dhol an
ordugh baiteil thuit e mach gu mi-shealbhach gu’n d’ éirich eas-aonachd eutorra
mu dhéidhinn a’ chinnidh bu chòir a bhi air an làimh dheis, agus o nach faigheadh
tighearna Chluainidh an t-urram sin tharruing e féin ’s a chuid dhaoine air an
ais, agns shuibh iad air cnoc a’ gabbail beachd air a’ chòmbraig, gun bhuille
bhualadh fad an latha. Dhlùthaich na fineachan a nis air a chéile, Clann
Chamshroin, Clann an Tòiseich, agus Clann Dhaibhaidh, ann an ordugh catha fo an
cinn-fheadhna fa leth, agus:
“Bha bratach aig triath dha féin,
’S a ghaisgich bu treun m’a chruaidh.”
Bhuail
iad air a chéile gu garg, a’ cogadh leis an treubhantas ghàbhaidh sin air son
an robh ar sinnsire na Gàidhil riamh cho iomraideach. Mhair an iomairt
ghailbheach so ùin fhada, agus is iomadh ceatharnach calma a bha ’n a shìneadh
air an àraich mu’n do bhuadhaich taobh seach taobh. Mu dheireadh ghéil Clann an
Tòiseich, agus Clann Dhaibhaidh. Cha b’urrainn iad seasamh ni b’fhaide roimh
ionnsuidhean sgatharra Chloinn Chamshroin, agus theich iad ris a’ mhonadh a tha
air taobh tuath na Spé, and an ruagadh leis an h-Abraich.
An déidh
do Chloinn Chamshroin pilltinn o bhi leantuinn an nàimhdean chaith iad an
oidhche air Creagan na Breagaich, am bràigh Noide Mòire, gun fhiamh gun eagal.
Cho luath ’s a thàinig an t-anmoch chuir Mac an Tòiseich roimhe gu’n d’thugadh
e oidheirp le seòltachd air an ni a dh’fhairslich air le spionadh. Chum ’s gu’n
cuireadh e Clann Mhuireich agus Clann Chamshroin ’s a chéile dhealbh e car
innleachdach a shoirbhich leis. Chuir e a bhàrd gu tighearna Chluainidh g’a
bhrosnuchadh, mar gu’n d’thigeadh e o Mhac Dhòmhnuill Duibh, leis na
briathriabh a leanas:─
“Tha
luchd na foille air an tom,
’S
am bad-shuileach donn ’n a dhraip:
Cha
b’e bhur càirdeas ruinn a bh’ ann,
Ach
bhur làmh féin a bhi tais.”
Air do
thighearna Chluanaidh a’ chainnt thàireil so chluinntinn o’n bhàrd a thàinig,
mar shaoil esan, o Mhac Dhòmhnuill Duibh, thog e air gun dàil le’ chuid feachd,
agus thàinig e air na Camshronaich gun fhios gun fhaireach. “Fhuair Mac
Dhòmhnuill Duibh,” tha e air a ràdh, “seòrsa caismeachd an oidhche sin ann
aisling. Am feadh ’s a bha e’n a chadal, ’s a chasan am broilleach a bhràthar
altruim, ’g an cumail blàth, bhruadair e gu’n robh na mucan ’g a thionnadh,
agus mhosgail e le leithid do bhriosgadh ’s nach mòr nach do mharbh e a
bhàthair altruim leis a’ bhreab a thug e dha. “Ged bha Clann Mhuireich ’n an tàmh
an dé,” arse san air dha dùsgadh, “cha bhi an duigh.” Theich Clann Chamshroin
an sin a mach ris a’ mhonadh. Rugadh air aon diubh a bha air dheireadh air
càch, a thaobh a shean aois, agus mharbhadh e aig taobh sruthain a bha ’m
bràigh Noide, d’an geirear o’n àm sin “Caochan-a’-Bhodaic.” Chum iad suas
rathad Dhruim Uachdair, seachad air Coire Theàrlaich, Coir Uilleim, agus Coire
nan Cisteachan, far an do thuit mòran diubh. Thionndaidh iad an sin a stigh gun
Ceann Loch Eireachd, agus chum iad air an aghaidh suas ri taobh tuath an luich.
’N uair ràinig iad Ceann-Loch-Pataig, dh’fheuch iad aon uair eile ri iad féin a
dhion, agus ri bacadh a chur air an luchd tòrachd. Am measg nan laoch a bha
tilgeadh bha Ceann Dubh Mac Iain, duine treun a bha taghta aig cuspaireachd.
’Nuair bha e dol seachad fo Chrag Dhubh, an latha roimh sin, dh’fharraid e d’ a
cheann-cinnidh, cò chas bu mhaith leis a chur deth eun beag a bha ’n a seasamh
air craoibh. Fhreagair a cheann-cinnidh gu’m bu mhaith leis a churn a coise
deise dheth, agus rinn Cann Dubh sin air ’iarrtas. Air an taobh eile bha
Teàrlach Mór Mac Ghill Onfhaidh, a bha mar an ceudna ’n a dhuine treum aimeil,
agus ’n a cheann-tighe. Choinnich an dithis so, agus thilg iad an saighdean,
ach cha robh iad deònach a chéile chuimseachadh. ’S e b’ aobhar do so gu’n robh
gnè chàirideis eutorra a thaobh comhaltais. Bha Ceann Dubh Mac Iain ’n a
sheasamh air Meall-Ard-Laoich, agus an gaisgeach eile thall m’a choinneamh. Air
an do thigherna Chluainidh umhail a chur nach robh iad da rìreadh chronaich e
Ceann Dubh Mac Iain. “Chuimsicheadh tu ’n dé,” arse san, “cas deas an eoin
bhig, an uair a dh’iarr mi ort, agus an diugh cha chuimisich thu Teàrlach Mór
Mac Ghill Onfhaidh!” Bha Teàrlach Mór gu so ag eigheach,─“Tharam is tharad a
Cheann Duibh,”─agus a nis dh’éigh Ceann Dubh ris,─ “Annam is annad a
Theàrlaich,”─agus air dha so a ràdh thilg iad ’n an dithis, agus thuit iad le
chéile aig an aon àm. Thogadh càrn far an do thuit Teàrlach, ris an abrar “Càrn
Mhic Ghill Onfhaidh” gus an latha ’n diugh. Cha robh Ceann Dubh Mac Iain
fhathad marbh ’n uair thog a chàirdean leò e, ’ga thoirt dhachaidh, an dùil
gu’m biodh e beò; ach cha robh iad ach mu mhìle air falbh leis ’n uair thilg e
’n deò, aig allt ris an abrar o sin “Caochan Cheann Duibh.”
Tha cuid
am barail gu’n do mharbhadh Mac Ghille Onfhaidh aig monadh a tha os ceann
Fhorais, d’an ainm Coire Theàrlaich, ach o’n chaidh ràdh a cheanan chithear
nach ’eil e cho coltach gur ann an sin a thuit e. Gidheadh feudaidh e bhi gur
ann uaith-se a fhuair an Coire so ’ainm; oir tha e air aithris gu’m bu tric
leis a bhi fantuinn feadh nam monaidhean eadar Lochabar agus Authol, far am
faiceadh e féin iomchuidh, agus gu’m b’ àbhaist dha ràdh, gu’m b’ iad féidh nam
beann a chuid-se feudail.
Air do
Mhac Ghill Onfhaidh tuiteam, thàir Clann Chamshroin as a rìs, a’ cumail suas
ris na beanntaibh, ’s na nàimhdean fathasd air an tòir, gus an d’ ràinig iad
fagus do’n amhainn Tréig, air criochaibh Lochabair. Thuit mòran diùbh air an
t-slighe, gu h-àraidh aig na uchdaich d’ an goirear Sliabh Loraig; agus bu cho
dian a leanadh an ruig mu thimchioll deich mile fichead, ’s nach robh ach
àireamh ro dheag dhiubh a fhuair beò dhachaidh, a dh’innseadh an sgeòil.
Is coir
dhuinne bhi taingeil gu’m bheil ar crannchur againn ann an làithaibh a’s fear;
gu’m bheil sìth agus sàmhchair a nis a’ riaghladh eadar na fineachan
Gàidhealach; agus nach ’eil sinn air ar gairm, mar bha ar sinnsire o shean, gu
bhi deargadh ar làmh ann am fuil ar cinnich, agus ar càirdean féin.
S.
Bàideanach.
Donald
MacIntosh (1743–1808) in his Collection
of Gaelic Proverbs (1785) gives the following explanation for one of the
well-known proverbs to which the combat on the North Inch (Perth), also known
as the Battle of the Clans, gave rise:
“Mackintosh,
being irritated and disappointed by this behaviour of the Macphersons, on the night following, sent his
own bard to the camp of the Macphersons, as if he had come from the Camerons to
provoke them to fight, which he accomplished by repeating the following
satirical lines:–
“Tha luchd na foille air an tom,
Is am baIg-shuileach donn na dhraip;
Cha b’ e bhur càirdeas ruinn a bh’ ann
Ach bhur làmh a bhi tais.”
i.e.–“The
false party are on the field, beholding the chief in danger; it was not your
love to us that made you abstain from fighting, but merely your own cowardice.”
“This reproach so stung Macpherson that, calling up his men, he attacked the
Camerons that came night in their camp, and made a dreadful slaughter of them,
pursued them to the foot of Binn-imhais [Ben Nevis], and killed their chief,
Charles Macgilony, at a place called Coire Theàrlaich, i.e.,Charles’s Valley.”
Perhaps a better translation would be:
The
traitors stood on the hillock,
Whilst
the brown bug-eyed one (i.e. MacIntosh) is in danger;
It was not your friendship
But
your cowardice that stayed your hand.
References:
(Sir)
John Foulis (of Colinton), ‘An Account of a Combat
between the Macphersons and the Davidsons’, Archaeologica
Scotica or The Transactions of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol.
1 (1792), pp. 188–91
James
D. G. Davidson, ‘The Battle of the North Inch of Perth, 1396’, Clan Chattan, no. 2 (1996), pp. 65–69
Graeme
M. Mackenzie, ‘“The rarest decision recorded in history”: The Battle of the
Clans in 1396’, Transactions of the
Gaelic Society of Inverness, vol. LIX (1994–96), pp. 420–87
Donald
MacIntosh, Collection
of Gaelic Proverbs (Edinburgh: John Gillies, 1785)
Allan
Maclean, ‘1396: The Battle of the North Inch’, Clan Chattan, vol. x, no. 3 (1997), pp. 142–45
Alexander
Macpherson, ‘The Battle of
Invernahaven in 1386, and the Conflict on the North Inch of Perth in 1939’, in Glimpses of Church and Social Life in the
Highlands in Olden Times (Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1893), pp. 474–78
Euan Macpherson, ‘The Battle of
North Inch’, The Scots Magazine, vol.
145, no. 3 (Sep., 1996), pp. 266–71
S.,
‘Battle of
Invernahavon in Badenoch; Blàr Inbhir na h-Amhann’,
Cuairtear nan Gleann, no. 36 (Feb.
1843), pp. 331–34
Alexander M. Shaw, History of the Clan Battle at Perth, 1396 (London,
1874)
SSS NB 15, pp. 1311–12
Image:
Craig Ruadh, near to where the Battle of Invernahavon took
place.
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