Cameron vs. Mackintosh

Several years before the feud, Clan Mackintosh, under the leadership of the 6th chief of the clan,  abandoned some of their lands in Lochaber.   Members of Clan Cameron took over the property. Years later, William Mackintosh, the 7th chief of the clan demanded that Loch Arkaig should be restored to the Mackintoshs.  The Camerons refused,  believing that they rightfully settled on abandoned lands.  The two clans met at the Battle of Drumlui where the Mackintoshs were able to defeat the Camerons in battle but sustained significant losses.

After the Battle of Drumlui the feuding between the clans continued with each clan raiding each other’s property.  In 1370, members of Clan Cameron conducted a raid on Mackintosh owned Badenoch.  On their way home they were intercepted by Clan Chattan.  Clan Chattan is a confederacy of clans traditionally led by the Mackintosh chief.  During the battle there was a dispute among two of the Chattan Clans, the Davidsons and the Macphersons.  They both wanted command of the right flank.  The Mackintosh Chief granted this honor to the Davidsons and the Macphersons left the battle in disgust.  They found themselves outnumbered by the Camerons and on the verge of defeat until the Macphersons had a change of heart and rejoined the battle after being taunted as cowards.  They were able to turn the battle around forcing the Camerons to retreat.

The next battle between the two clans may have been the Battle of North Inch.  This was an organized fight with 30 men on each side.  Spectators at the battle included King Robert III of Scotland.  The Mackintoshes were victorious, killing 29 of their competitors and only losing 19 of their own men.  In records of the time their opposing clan was named Clan Quhele, who many believe were the Camerons.

In 1429 the massacre of Palm Sunday took place after the Camerons had stole some cattle from Strathdearn.  The Mackintosh clan responded by attacking them on Palm Sunday, it was said that most of the men of Clan Cameron were slain in the attack.

In 1570 the chief of the Cameron clan died leaving his infant son as heir .  The Mackintoshs saw an opportunity to recover Loch Arkaig and attacked with 200 men.  The Mackintoshs had the advantage of the numbers but the Camerons had the advantage of high ground.  The Camerons defeated the Mackintoshs and killed their chief.  After the Mackintoshs retreated they camped for the night at Bun Garvan where they were tracked down and slaughtered.  According to a legend, the mother of the infant chief of the Camerons was a Mackintosh, After learning of the fate of her clansmen tried to kill her infant son.

The 350 year feud came to an end with the Stand-off at the Ford of Arkaig.  In 1665 Clan Mackintosh gathered an army to face the Camerons.  After a week of battle with no clear winner the feud was settled when the Camerons offered to buy the disputed land from the Mackintoshes.  The two chiefs exchanged swords to mark the end of the dispute.