Battle of Clachnaharry The Battle of Clachnaharry was a Scottish clan battle that took place in the year 1454 . It was fought between the Clan Munro and the Clan Mackintosh ( Chattan Confederation ) on the south bank of the Beauly Firth at Clachnaharry , on the outskirts of Inverness . Background . The Clan Munro were returning home after a cattle raid in Perthshire . On their return , an amount of ' road collop ' or passage money was demanded by the Clan Mackintosh , as was the custom in the Scottish Highlands . There was a dispute over the amount and a battle took place . Accounts of the Battle . The earliest account was written by Sir Robert Gordon ( 1580 - 1656 ) between 1615 and 1630 . Gordon ' s account states that the Mackintosh chief was killed . The Mackintosh ' s own account , which was written later in 1679 states that the grandson of the chief of Mackintoshes , Malcolm Og Mackintosh was not present and was not killed at Clachnaharry . Later accounts appear to have been based on Gordon ' s original account and agree that the Mackintosh leader was killed . Sir Robert Gordon ( c . 1625 ) . Sir Robert Gordon ' s account states that John Munro " Tutor of Foulis " was travelling home from the south of Scotland towards Ross . He fell at variance with some of the inhabitants of Strathdale between Saint Johnstone and Atholl who abused him . When Munro returned home he gathered all of his followers . He then singled out three hundred and fifty of the best and ablest men and went back to Strathardle to which he laid waste , spoiled , killed some of the people and carried away their cattle . On his return home he passed by the Isle of Moy and Mackintosh ( chief of Clan Chattan ) sent to him " craving " some of the spoils as was the custom . Gordon states that John Munro offered a reasonable portion , which Mackintosh through " evil counsel " refused to accept and would have no less than half of the whole booty . John Munro would not " hearken " or " yield " and continued on his journey home . Mackintosh then gathered all of his forces and followed John Munro who he overtook at Clachnaharry , beside Inverness , hard by the ferry of Kessock . Gordon states that Munro perceiving Mackintosh sent fifty of his men home to Ferindonald with the spoil and encouraged the rest to fight . There ensued a cruel conflict where Mackintosh was killed along with most of his company . " Divers " of the Munros were also killed and John Munro was left for dead on the field . Munro was taken by Lord Lovat to his house where he was cured of his wounds and was from then on known as John Baclamhach because his hand was mutilated . From this John Munro the Munro of Milntown family are descended . Wardlaw Manuscript ( c . 1674 ) . James Fraser wrote the " Wardlaw manuscrit " in about 1674 . Fraser states that in 1378 John Monroe was traveling home from Edinburgh and while resting in a meadow in Strathardle , the owners of the meadow cut off the tails of his horses . John Munro having returned home to Ross mustered the Monores and singled out 350 of the most resolute men . Monroe returned to Strathardle and carried away their strongest cattle such as horse , oxen and cows , and killed some of the men who resisted them . Monroe then returned home . However while passing the Isle of Moy , Mackintosh , chief of Clan Chattan challenged Monroe for some of the cattle , as was the passing custom . However the cattle which Monroe offered Mackintosh was not enough and Mackintosh would accept no less than half . Monroe continued on his journey and sent 50 of his men with the cattle into Fraser , Lord Lovat ' s country . Then Monroe with his 300 remaining men pitches on a " litel levell " near Clachniharry , taking advantage of the ground convenient for fighting . There ensued a most bloody battle between the Monroes and Mackintoshes , where in the first engagement the Laird of Mackintosh fell and his brother and second son were slain with him , with the prime part of his host and were defeated . " Diverse " of the Monroes were also killed but carried the day . It was computed that the Mackintoshes lost 200 men and the rest fled . John Monro was wounded and left among the dead but was found the next day by a woman and taken to Lovat where he was cared for . He was afterwards known as John " Bach - klawach " because one of his arms was mutilated . According to Fraser ' s Wardlaw Manuscript after the battle of Clachnaharry , John Munro who was wounded was cared for by the Frasers of Lovat , and that laid the foundation of kindness between the Frasers and Munros to this very day . Mackintosh of Kinrara ( 1679 ) . Mackintosh of Kinrara states that in 1454 an unexpected contest sprung up between Malcolm Mackintosh , grandson of the chief of Mackintosh and John Munro , tutor of Foulis . Mackintosh states that a very keen contest followed in that John Munro was returning from a tour in the south and that a dissension took place between him and the inhabitants of Strathardle who loaded him with great abuse . Intent on revenge John Munro returned home and implored the assistance of his friends . At the head of two hundred chosen men he advanced with speed to Sthrathardle ravaged the country and carried off the herds of cattle . On his return at the River Findhorn he meets Malcolm Mackintosh by accident who demaded some of the plunder . John Munro offered Mackintosh twenty - four cows and a bull , which Mackintosh rejected , insisting on no less than one third . John Munro then proceeded on his way giving none . Mackintosh of Kinrara ' s account states that Malcolm Mackintosh then " communicated " to his friends and commanded the inhabitants of Petty and Lochardil to follow John and obstruct his passage until he , with his men of Strathnairn , shall have come up . They overtook John at Clachnaharry . John sent forty men off with the booty and encouraged the rest to fight in which a fierce conflict ensued . Mackintosh of Kinrara ' s account states that " a few fell on each side " . He goes on to say that John Munro was " almost " slain and left among the dead but Lord Lovat took care of his recovery . From John descended the family of Milntown . Mackintosh of Kinrara ' s account states that Malcolm Mackintosh was not present at the battle and that the same Malcolm Mackintosh later married Janet Munro , sister of John . Shaw ( 1775 ) . Shaw states that in 1454 a " shameful " and " bloody " conflict happened between the Mackintoshes and the Munros . Shaw states that John Munro , tutor of Foulis was on his return from Edinburgh and that he rested in a meadow in Strathardle where the owner of the meadow cut off the tails of John ' s and his servant ' s horses . John Munro then returned with three hundred and fifty men , spoiled Strathardle and drove away their cattle . While passing Loch Moy Mackintosh sent to ask a " Stike Raide - Staoig Raithid - " or " Stick Criech - Staoig Crech " that is , a Road Callop ; a custom among the Highlanders , that when a party drove away spoil through a gentleman ' s land they should give him part of the spoil . Munro then offered what he thought was reasonable but Mackintosh demanded more and pursued the Munros at Clachnaharry , near Inverness . Shaw states that they fought desperately and that many were killed on each side including the Laird of Mackintosh , and that John Munro was wounded and afterwards called John Bacilach . Shaw states that the " Munros had the great advantage of ground by lurking among the rocks ; whilst the MacKintoshes were exposed to their arrows " . John Anderson ( 1825 ) . John Anderson states that the Munros , " a distinguished tribe in Ross " were returning from the south of Scotland when they passed by Moyhall , the seat of MacKintosh , leader of the Clan Chattan . Mackintosh demanded a share of the booty or " road callop " payable to a chief for travelling through his land , which was acceded to but the Mackintoshes met the proposal with contempt . The Munros pursuing their journey , forded the river Ness a little above the Islands , and dispatched the cattle they had plundered across the hill of Kinmylies , to Lovat ' s province . Their enemies met them at the point of Clachnaharry and they immediately joined in battle . Anderson states that after and " obstinate struggle " Mackintosh was killed and that John Munro was left for dead on the field , and from the loss of his arm he was known by the name of John Baclamhach . Anderson goes on to say that the Munros were not long in retaliating and having collected a sufficient force , they marched in the dead of night for the Isle of Moy where the chief of MacKintosh resided . By the aid of some planks which they had carried with them , and now put together , they crossed to the Isle , and glutted their thirst for revenge by murder or captivity of all the inmates . " William Anderson ( 1859 ) . William Anderson ' s account is similar to that of Shaw ' s in that he says that John Munro whilst returning from Edinburgh had the tails of his and his servants horses cut off while sleeping in a meadow in Strathardle . In revenge John Munro returned home and selected 350 of his best men and returned to Strathardle which he spoiled , killed some of the inhabitants and carried off their cattle . On his return , while passing the castle of Moy the laird of Mackintosh sent a message to him demanding some of the spoil . Anderson goes on to say that this was customary among the Highlanders when a party drove cattle so taken through a gentleman ' s land , and the part so exacted was called a Staoig Ratliaid or Staoig Crtich that is , a road collop . Munro offered Mackintosh a reasonable share of the booty but Mackintosh would accept no less than half . This Munro refused and drove off the cattle . Shaw states that Mackintosh collected his clansmen and pursued Munro and came up with him at " Glach - na - haire " ( Clachnaharry ) , near Inverness . Munro perceiving this approach sent fifty of his men home with the cattle and that in the ensuing contest , Mackintosh and the greater part of his men were killed . Several of the Munros were also killed and John Munro himself was left for dead on the field of battle . Lord Lovat had him carried to his house where he was cured of his wounds . One of his hands was so mutilated , that he lost the use of it , on which account he was afterwards culled John " Bac - Lniinh " , or " Ciotach " . Anderson states that the Munros had great advantage of the ground , by taking up a position among rocks , from which they annoyed the Mackintoslies with their arrows " . Clachnaharry Monument . The Clachnaharry Battle Monument marks the clash between the Munroes and the Mackintoshes ( Clan Chattan ) . The monument was built by Major Hugh Robert Duff in about 1820 . The monument did once include a tall column about 40 ft to 50 ft high , but it fell over in a storm in about 1951 , after being struck by lightning . One side of the monument reads " Munro " and the other side reads " Chattan " facing the two clans respective territories .