Battle of Drumnacoub The Battle of Drumnacoub ( Battle of Druim na coub , Drum - ne - coub ) was a battle involving factions of the Clan Mackay fought in the far northwest of Scotland , some time between 1427 and 1433 . It took place on a hill called Carn Fada at the southern end of the Kyle of Tongue , between Ben Loyal and the village of Tongue . It was fought between members of the Clan Mackay and men of the Clan Sutherland . On one side was the old chief , Angus Du ( Dow ) Mackay , and his second son John Aberach Mackay , and on the other side were Angus ' s cousins Morgan Neilson Mackay and Niel Neilson Mackay who were backed by troops from the Clan Sutherland , led by Angus Murray . Niel Nielson Mackay and Morgan Nielson Mackay were attempting to take the Mackay lands from their cousin , chief Angus Du Mackay . Background . Niel Vasse Mackay , the eldest son of chief Angus Du Mackay had been imprisoned at the Bass Rock by King James I of Scotland in 1427 , after the Battle of Harpsdale . Thomas Neilson Mackay , brother of Neil Neilson Mackay and Morgan Neilson Mackay had killed the Laird of Freswick by the name of Mowat . He had pursued and killed Mowat with all his company , near the town of Tain in Ross , within the chapel of St Duffus , which he also burnt to the ground . Mowat had retired himself to the chapel to find sanctuary . The King soon after denounced Thomas Neilson Mackay to be a rebel and promised his lands and possessions for a reward to any that would kill or apprehend him . Thomas was captured by Angus Murray of the Clan Sutherland with the help of Thomas ' s own brothers Morgan Neilson Mackay and Niel Neilson Mackay . After being handed over to the king , Thomas was executed at Inverness . " After these events the Mackays were divided ; the elderly chief Angus - Du Mackay and his loyal second son John Mackay were at odds with Angus ' s cousins Morgan Neilson Mackay and Niel Neilson Mackay , who had betrayed their own brother Thomas , and the Earl of Sutherland and Angus Murray offered Niel and Morgan Mackay rewards for their services , including their daughters in marriage . In order to complete his " " design " " ; the Earl of Sutherland ordered all his forces to support Niel Nielson Mackay and Morgan Nielson Mackay in obtaining Angus Mackay ' s lands . Angus Mackay , by that time , was elderly and was at a loss as to how to act , but was advised by his second son John Mackay not to yield to any of their demands and that he would defend their country or die doing so . This affair was terminated by the decisive Battle of Drumnacoub , which has been described by the historians George Buchanan , Sir Robert Gordon and John Pinkerton . The battle . The forces of Angus Du Mackay , led by his loyal second son John Aberach Mackay won the battle . However Angus Du Mackay was killed . Niel Nielson Mackay and Morgan Nielson Mackay whose forces were defeated were both killed also , as was their father in - law Angus Murray . Sir Robert Gordon ( 1580 – 1656 ) wrote an account of this battle in his book , the " Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland " : " Angus Murray , for the performance of his engaged promise made to Niel and Morgan , gave them his two daughters in marriage ; then gathering a company of Sutherland - men , with Earl Robert his attollerance , he went on with these two brethren into Strathnver , to invade the same . Angus - Dow MacKay hearing of their approach , convened his countrymen , and because he was unable himself in person to resist his enemies , he made his son John Aberach Mackay , commander of his host . When they were ready to encounter , some two miles from Tongue , at a place called Drum - ne - coub , Angus - Dow MacKay sent message unto his cousin - germans [ sic ] , Niel and Morgan , offering them all his lands and possessions , except what is called Kintail in Strathnaver ; which offer they did refuse , whereupon there ensued a cruel and sharp conflict , valiantly fought a long time with great slaughter on either side ; Niel and Morgan trusting to their forces , John Aberach reposing his confidence in the equity of his cause , encouraged his men to assault their enemies afresh , who , with the like manhood , made stout resistance ; by reason whereof there ensued such a cruel fight between them , that there remained , in the end very few alive on either side . John Aberach seemed to have victory , because he escaped with his life , yet very sore wounded , and mutilate by the loss of one of his arms . His father , Angus Dow MacKay , being carried thither to view the place of the conflict , and searching for the corpse of his unkind cousins , was there slain with an arrow , after the conflict by a Sutherland - man that was lurking in a bush hard by . Niel and Morgan , with their father - in - law Angus Murray , were slain ; and as they had undertaken this enterprise upon an evil ground , so they perished therein accordingly . " Aftermath . John Aberach Mackay having won the battle was later pursued by the Sutherlanders . However upon the return of his older brother Niel Vasse Mackay , who had been imprisoned on the Bass Rock took over his deceased father ' s lands and gave his younger brother John some lands of his own . Sir Robert Gordon also writes of the events after the Battle of Drumnacoub : " The Earl of Sutherland being advertised how all passed at Drum - na - coub , and being informed of Angus Murray his death , he pursued John Abeerach so hotly , that he constrained him , for safety of his life , to fly into the isles . But John returning from thence the night ensuing Christmas , he came to Strathully ( Helmsdale ) , and there killed three of the Sutherlands at Dinaboll , having invaded them at unawares ; whereupon Earl Robert pursued John Aberach the second time , so eagerly that he was constrained to submit himself , and crave him pardon for his offence , which he obtained upon his submission . Then again John Aberach settled himself into the country of Strathnaver , where he continued until the death of King James the First , that his brother , Neil - Wass MacKay was relieved out of the Bass ( in 1437 ) , by the means of the lady of that place , who was his near kinswoman . And at Niel his return into Strathnaver John Aberach willingly surrendered unto him all his lands within the country . Yet Niel gave unto his brother John the lands about Lochnaver , as a possession to dwell in during his days ; which lands his posterity , the Sleaght - ean Aberach ( descendants of John ) ' do possess and inhabit at this day ' . " " The son of Niel Nielson Mackay who had rebelled against Angus Dow Mackay was John Bain Mackay who dropped the surname of Mackay and was progenitor of the Bain family .