Battle of Logiebride

The Battle of Logiebride or Logie-Riach, also known as a Tumult in Ross was more of a small skirmish rather than an actual battle. The disturbance is said to have taken place on 4th February 1597 at the Logie Candlemas market near Conan House (a mile south-west of Conon Bridge) between men of the Clan MacKenzie against men of the Clan Munro and Clan Bane. [ [http://www.electricscotland.com/mackenzie/historybook.htm History of the Mackenzies ] ] Many of the later recorded details of the battle may be myth rather than fact. [ [http://www.clanmunro.org.uk/info22.htm Bards and Seneachies@Clan Munro.co.uk] ]

The Battle

Munro account

An account of the fight was first published in the book "Conflicts of the Clans" published by the Foulis Press in 1764, written from a manuscript from the time of King James VI of Scotland (1566 - 1625):

"The year of God 1597, there happened an accident in Ross, at a fair in Lagavraid, which had almost put Ross and all the neighbouring counties in a combustion. The quarrel did begin betwixt John Macgillichallum (brother to the Laird of Raasay), and Alexander Bane (brother to Duncan Bane of Tulloch). The Munroes did assist Alexander Bane, and the Clan Kenzie took part with John Macgillichallum, who was there slain, with John Mac-Murdo Mac-William, and three others of the Clan MacKenzie. Alexander Bane escaped but there were killed on his side John Munro of Culcraggie, with his brother, Hutcheon Munro, and John Munro Robertson. Hereupon the Clan Kenzie and the Munroes began to employ the aid and assistance of their friends from parts to invade one another; but they were in some measure reconciled by the mediation of indifferent friends and neighbours." [ [http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/FSCNS/Scots_NS/Hty_Sct/Conflict_Clans/CC/Tumult_Ross.html Conflicts of the Clans ] ] [ [http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/conflict/Tumult_Ross.html Conflicts of the Clans ] ]

Alexander MacKenzie's account

Alexander MacKenzie later published an account of the battle in his books "The History of the MacKenzies of Kintail" (1890) and "The History of the Munros of Fowlis" (1898). MacKenzie quotes his account of the battle to a short gaelic poem, which by MacKenzie tradition, is said to have been written by the sister of three Munros killed in the fight. MacKenzie does not provide a proper source for his account and his storey seems somewhat unlikely:

"On the 4th of February, 1597, a disturbance took place at Logie-Raiach, on the banks of the river Conon, between the MacKenzies on the one hand and the Baynes and Munros on the other, in which several of the latter were slain. Some difference arse between a desperado, John MacGilliechallum, brother of the Laird of Raasay, and the Baynes about the lands of Torridon, and the latter obtained a decree against John, interdicting him from going on his lands or molesting his people. Soon after this Bayne attended the Candlemas market then held at Logie, with a large following of armed men, composed of Baynes and a considerable number of Munros. MacGilliechallum came to the fair too, as was his custom, and "while buying some article at a chapman's stall Alastair Mor (Bayne) came up behind unperceived and without any warning struck him on the head with a two-edged sword, killing him instantly". One of the MacKenzies, to whom MacGilliechallum was related, interfered, but he no sooner opened his mouth, than he was run through the body by one of the Baynes. The alarm and news of the death of the two men immediately spread through the market. "Tulloch Ard", the war cry of the MacKenzies was instantly raised; whereupon "the Baynes and the Munros took to their heels - the Munros eastward to the Ferry of Fowlis, and the Baynes northwood to the hills, both followed by a band of the infuruated MacKenzies, who slaughtered everyone they overtook. Ian Dubh MacCoinnich Mhic Mhurchaidh of the Clan Mhuchaidh and Ian Gallda Mac Fhionnla Dhuibh, two gentlemen of the MacKenzies, were on their way from Canonry when they met with a batch of the Munros flying in confusion in that direction, and the pair having learned the cause of the flight to be the murder of their two friends at Logie, they pursued the fugitives and slew no less than thirteen of them between Logie and the wood of Millechaich. Most of the Baynes were killed and the Munros lost no less than fifty able-bodied men." [Alexander MacKenzies' History of the MacKenzies of Kintail] [Alexander MacKenzies' History of the Munroes of Fowlis]

Alan MacKenzie's account

Recently another account was published by Alan MacKenzie of the Clan MacKenzie society USA and Canada, in his book, "A History of the MacKenzies":

"In 1597 a disturbance took place at Loggiewreid in Ross-shire which almost put the whole of Ross-shire and adjoining territories in a civil war. The quarrel was between John Mac-Gille-Calum, the brother of the Laird of Rathsay and Alexander Bane, a brother of Duncan Bane of Tulloch in Ross. The Munros took the side of the Banes while the Mackenzies sided with Mac-Gille-Calum. Fighting took place between the factions and as a result John Mac-Gille-Calum and a gentleman of the Mackenzie clan, John Mac-Murthow-Mac-William and three other Mackenzies were killed. On the Munro side John Munro of Culcraigie, his brother Houcheon Munro and John Munro Robertson were also killed. This incident did much to revive old animosities between the Mackenzies and Munros. Both sides assembled their allies and for a time there was real danger of the situation getting out of control and developing into a major war. However the successful mediation of mutual friends of both clans helped cool matters down sufficiently and the problem died." [History of the Mackenzies by Alan McKenzie, FSA Scot. Chapter 6. [http://www.electricscotland.com/mackenzie/images/CHAPT.06.pdf] ]

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