BATTLE AT THE
NORTH INCH OF PERTH

1396

While there are numerous renditions of the famed Battle at the North Inch of Perth, many suggest that Clan Cameron was one of the participants.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Invernahavon the Camerons did not wait very long to avenge themselves on their Clan Chattan enemies.  These conflicts were so frequent, and at the same time so fierce and bloody, that King Robert III was made aware of them while at Court.  Sending two of his Generals to the Highlands, to settle these commotions, it was found that they could not execute their orders by force without risking the loss of their own armies.  They endeavored to bring the two rival chiefs to some sort of agreement and after many overtures an agreeable proposal was reached.

A staged battle between twelve to thirty (estimates vary) picked warriors of Clan Cameron and a like number from Clan Mackintosh would be fought before the King and Court, without any arms but their swords.  The party which should happen to be defeated would be given indemnity for all past offenses and the victors, besides earning the lands in question, should be honored with the "Royal favor."

With the rival clans arrival at Court the King ordered a part of the river, near the city of Perth, to be enclosed with a deep ditch, in the form of an amphitheater with seats or benches for the spectators.  His Majesty himself sitting as judge on the field.  Crowds gathered and the combatants appeared, but just as they were ready to engage one of the Mackintoshes, who had withdrawn himself from fear, turned up missing.  The King then demanded that one of the Camerons should be removed, as to equalize the number of combatants.  To this proposal each and every Cameron man expressed a great unwillingness, or more likely absolute outrage.  As a result, one of the spectators presented himself before the King and offered his services, which were accepted, resulting in a fair and balanced contest.

A battle was fought between the opposing clans, so bloody and furious that the King and spectators were seized with "an inexpressible horror."  Four of the Mackintoshes survived the battle but they were all mortally wounded.  Only one Cameron survived, saving himself by swimming the river Tay - the miserable victors were in no condition to prevent him.  This battle, which had been orchestrated to end to tensions between the two rival clans, had the effect of "suspending" actions for a number of years (in that the best and strongest men of each clan had been killed) but it did nothing to eliminate the ongoing feud in the future.