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Donald Dubh, XI Captain and Chief of Clan Cameron
was soon recalled from his exile in Ireland "by the groans of his people,"
(resulting from the relentless attack upon Cameron lands by Alexander, Lord
of the Isles) and led his forces in defending the Cameron lands from the
Macleans. These Macleans are said to have been "a party of ruffians, led
by a "robber from the north" called Hector Bui M'Lean, "who took the opportunity
of his (Donald Dubh's) absence to infest the country." Being joined by a
sufficient party of his clan, Donald Dubh pursued the Maclean "robbers,"
who fled upon the news of his arrival, and caught them at the head of Loch
Ness. Hector M'Lean, with his prisoners (for he had taken many, among which
was Samuel Cameron of Glen Nevis) escaped the Camerons by taking sanctuary
in a strong house called Castle Spiriten, where he barbarously murdered them.
In revenge of their death, Donald Dubh caused two of Hector's sons, with
others from their gang who had fallen into his hands, to be hanged in view
of their father, "a wretch so excessively savage that he refused to deliver
them by way of exchange, though earnestly pressed to it."
The actual battle or conflict between the Camerons and Macleans is
said to have occurred soon afterwards at Corpach, where the latter were
defeated and their leader(s) killed. Prior to this the Cameron lands had
been bestowed upon John Garve Maclean of Coll by Alexander, Lord of the
Isles. It is recorded that a young Maclean Chieftain, Ewen/John Abrach (the
son of John Garve Maclean, so called from his residence in Lochaber) was
killed in this battle. It is not likely that this is one in the same with
"Hector Bui M'Lean." Rather, they were possibly the leaders of their respective tribes
of the Macleans. With the defeat of the Macleans at Corpach, the Camerons
continued to retain their lands, despite Maclean attempts to "dislodge" them
throughout the coming years.
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