Battle of Invernahavon

Battle of Invernahoven

Part of Clan Cameron-Clan Mackintosh feud

The River Spey at the point where itis joined by the River Truim (on the right), where the battle is said to have taken place

Date	1386,^[1] 1370
Location	Invernahovon in the upper Spey valley grid reference NN689962^[1] Coordinates: 57°2′20″N 4°9′36″W / 57.03889°N 4.16000°W / 57.03889; -4.16000
Result	Chattan (Mackintosh) victory

Belligerents

Clan Cameron

Chattan Confederation
led by Clan Mackintosh

Commanders and leaders

Charles MacGilony

Lachlan, Laird of MacIntosh

Strength

400

Somewhat more than 400

Casualties and losses

High

Unknown

Clan Cameron-Clan Mackintosh feud

Drumlui Invernahavon North Inch Palm Sunday Craig Cailloch Bun Garbhain Glenlivet Fords of Arkaig Maol Ruadh

The Battle of Invernahoven was a Scottish clan battle between the Clan Cameron and the Chattan Confederation of Clan Mackintosh, Clan Macpherson and Clan Davidson.^[2] Some sources give the date as 1386,^[1] others as 1370.^[2]

Background

Around 400 men of the Clan Cameron were returning from a raid on Badenoch, the area around Kingussie. Travelling southwest up the Spey valley, they were overtaken at Invernahavon by a body of Chattan Confederation led by Lachlan, Laird of MacIntosh. Invernahovon lies southwest of Newtonmore in the headwaters of the River Spey, at the point where it is joined by the River Truim. It appears that the Camerons were trying to cross the Truim to continue home towards Fort William, following the route of the modern A86 road but on the opposite side of the Spey.

Battle

The Chattan Confederation forces consisted of the Mackintoshes, Davidsons and Macphersons. As a result of a disagreement as to whether the Davidsons or Macphersons would occupy the right wing, which was the post of honour, the Macphersons withdrew in disgust from the army. The combined Clan Chattan had outnumbered the Camerons but with the loss of the Macphersons the Camerons now had the greater number. The battle resulted in a defeat for the remaining Clan Chattan forces. It is said that an ally of Cameron known as Charles MacGilony led the clan into battle; he is believed to have changed the outcome of the day with his uncanny ability as an archer.

At this point, or possibly the next morning, the Macphersons changed their minds and decided to rejoin the Chattan confederation, attacking the Camerons with such vigour that they turned defeat into victory for Clan Chattan, albeit a day late. The Camerons were “put to flight” up the Truim valley towards Drumochter, turning homeward at Dalwhinnie, west towards Loch Treig.

The Mackintoshes later claimed that the Macphersons were coaxed into the battle by a man from Clan Mackintosh who turned up at the Macphersons’ camp pretending to be from Clan Cameron and calling the Macphersons cowards. The Macphersons then attacked the Camerons’ camp, making a dreadful slaughter of them—even killing Charles MacGilony, the Camerons' top archer—at a place now called Charles’s Valley (in Gaelic Coire Thearlaich).^[2]

References

1 2 3 Site Record for Invernahavon, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
1 2 3 Battle of Invernahoven@ClanCameron.org

Scottish clan battles

14th century	Battle of the Pass of Brander Battle of Dalrigh Battle of Drumlui Battle of Invernahavon Battle of the North Inch

15th century	Battle of Aldy Charrish Battle of Arbroath Battle of Brechin Battle of Arkinholm Battle of Bealach nam Broig Battle of Blar Na Pairce Battle of Bloody Bay Battle of Craignaught Hill Battle of Champions Battle of Clachnaharry Battle of Corpach Battle of Craig Cailloc Battle of Dingwall Battle of Drumchatt Battle of Drumnacoub Battle of Harlaw Battle of Harpsdale Battle of Inverlochy (1431) Siege of Inverness (1429) Battle of Lochaber Battle of Palm Sunday Raid on Ross Sandside Chase Battle of Skibo and Strathfleet Battle of Tannach Battle of Tarbat Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach

16th century	Battle of Achnashellach Battle of Alltachuilain Battle of Allt Camhna Battle of Leckmelm Battle of Alltan-Beath Battle of Bun Garbhain Battle of Carberry Hill Cleanse the Causeway Chanonry of Ross Battle of Clynetradwell Battle of Corrichie Battle of Craibstone Battle of Dryfe Sands Battle of Garbharry Battle of Glendale Battle of Glenlivet Battle of Traigh Ghruinneart Siege of Inverness (1562) Battle of Knock Mary Battle of Langside Battle of Linlithgow Bridge Battle of Logiebride Battle of Melrose Battle of the Shirts Battle of the Spoiling Dyke Battle of Summerdale Battle of Tillieangus Battle of Torran Dubh Battle of the Western Isles

17th century	Battle of Altimarlach Stand-off at the Fords of Arkaig Battle of Benbigrie Battle of Carinish Battle of Coire Na Creiche Battle of Glen Fruin Battle of Morar Battle of Maol Ruadh

see also	Scottish clan Jacobite risings Wars of Scottish Independence Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms Anglo-Scottish Wars Marian civil war Military of Scotland Manrent Massacre of Glencoe

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