Battles of Allt Camhna and Leckmelm

The Battles of Allt Camhna and Leckmelm were two Scottish clan battles fought in 1586 between the Clan Gunn and Clan MacKay against the Clan Sinclair at Allt Camhna and shortly afterwards at Leckmelm where the Sinclairs were supported by the MacKays as well as men from the Clan Sutherland and Clan MacLeod.

Background

In 1585 a meeting took place at Eglin, Scotland between George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly, John Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness and Hugh MacKay of Strathnaver. The purpouse of the meeting was to repair relations which had become damaged between the Earl of Sutherland, Earl of Caithness and Hugh MacKay due to actions by the Clan Gunn and Hugh MacKay in Assint, both having gone there on the orders of the Earl of Caithness.

It was decided at the meeting that the Clan Gunn should be "made away", because they were judged to be the principal authors of these "troubles and commotions". However both Hugh MacKay and George Sinclair, Earl of Caithness were unwilling to attack their old allies the Clan Gunn and therefore departed from the meeting at Eglin.

In consequence, in 1586, George Gordon, Marquess of Huntly came north to Sutherland, the lands of his cousin, John Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland. He sent a message to both Hugh MacKay and George Sinclair, Earl of Caithness to meet him there. The Earl of Caithness met with the Gordon Earls of Huntly and Sutherland but MacKay did not and was denouunced as a rebel by Sutherland. At this meeting an agreement was made that the George Sinclair, Earl of Caithness, chief of Clan Sinclair would expel the Clan Gunn from the lands of Sutherland and Caithness. The Clan Sinclair gathered under the command of Henry Sinclair, the uncle of William and Hugh MacKay.

Having been informed of the proceedings at this meeting, the Clan Gunn gathered their forces and prepared for battle. They were joined by William MacKay and a strong force from the Clan MacKay. William MacKay proposed to attack the men of the Clan Sutherland but this was overuled by the Clan Gunn who opted to attack the Clan Sinclair in Caithness instead. History of the House and Clan of the Name MacKay by Robert MacKay. p. 149 - 150. Quoting: "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland" .p.182. By Sir Robert Gordon (1580 - 1656)]

Accounts of the battles

The Battle of Allt Camhna

Historian Sir Robert Gordon (1580–1656), who was living at the time of the battle and was a close relative of John Gordon, Earl of Sutherland wrote an account of the battle in his book the "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland":

"So having the advantage of the hill, they set upon the enemy with a resolute courage. The Caithness-men came short with their first flight of arrows; by contrary, the Guns spared their shot until they came hard to the enemy, which then they bestowed among them to great advantage. In the end the clan Gun overthrew the Caithness-men at Auldgown, upon the borders of Caithness, the year 1586, and killed seven score of their most resolute men, with their captain Henry Sinclair, cousin to the Earl of Caithness, and uncle to Hugh and William MacKay. William MacKay was sore for the slaughter of his uncle, Henry Sinclair, whom he knew not to be there till he was slain; but afterwards in the chase William MacKay spared no man. The Caithness host had been all destroyed, had not the darkness of the night favoured theirflight. Hugh MacKay was then in Caithness, with Earl George; but the inhabitants of Caithness understanding that his brother, William MacKay was with the clan Gun at the conflict of Auldgown, they sought for Hugh MacKay to slay him; whereupon he was forced in all haste to flee secretly into Strathnaver, thereby to eschew their present fury." ["Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland" .p.183. By Sir Robert Gordon (1580 - 1656)]

The Battle of Leckmelm

Soon after the Battle of Allt Camhna the Battle of Leckmeln took place. An account of it is written in the book "History of the House and Clan of the Name MacKay" by Robert MacKay, quoting from Sir Robert Gordon:

"In consequence of this defeat, Lord Caithness was exasperated against the Guns, and Hugh MacKay withdrew from them his support. Caithness and Sutherland, with their forces, met at Bengrime in Sutherland, along with Sir Patrick Gordon of Achindown, who was sent north by Huntly, with a determinate resolution to exterminate them. This service was now laid upon Sutherland, as his men had not come forward at the late conflict. The Sutherland-men, under command of William Sutherland, grandson of Alexander the heir, were joined by Niel MacKay and his clan, together with James Macleod, chieften of the Slight-ean-Voir and the MacLeods of his tribe. The Guns took the alarm, and fled towards the Western Isles; "but as they were on their journey thither, James Mack-Rory (Macleod) and Niel Mack-ean-Mack-William, rencountered with them at Lochbroom, at place called Leckmelm, where after a sharp skirmish, the clan Gun were overthrown, and most part of their company slain." History of the House and Clan of the Name MacKay by Robert MacKay. p. 151 - 152. Quoting: "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland" .p.184. By Sir Robert Gordon (1580 - 1656)]

Conflicts of the clans

An account of both the Battle of Allt Camhna and Battle of Leckmelm was written 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, 1585, George, Earl of Caithness, married the Earl of Huntley's sister; at which time, by Huntley's mediation, the Earls of Sutherland and Caithness were reconciled. It was then concluded among them that the Clan Gunn should be pursued and invaded by the Earls of Sutherland and Caithness, because they were judged to be the chief authors of the troubles which were then like to ensue; and to this effect it was resolved that two companies of men should be sent by the Earls of Sutherland and Caithness against such of Clan Gunn as dwelt in Caithness, thereby to compass them, that no place of retreat might be left unto them, which was done. The Earl of Sutherland's company was conducted by John Gordon of Backies and James MacRorie; the Earl of Caithness's company was conducted by his cousin, Henry Sinclair -- a resolute gentleman. It happened that Henry Sinclair and his company rencountered first with the Clan Gunn, who were now assembled together at a hill called Bingrime, and with them was William Mackay (brother to Hugh Mackay of Strathnaver, and nephew to this Henry Sinclair, that led the Caithness men) who was accompanied with some Strathnaver men. Now were the Clan Gunn advertised of this preparation made against them; and no sooner were they in sight of one another but they prepared both for the fight, which was begun without fear or delay on either side. The Clan Gunn, although inferior in number, yet they had the advantage of the hill, by reason of which the Caithness men came short with their first flight of arrows; by the contrary, the Clan Gunn spared their shot until they came hard by the enemy, which then they bestowed among them with great advantage. Then ensued a sharp conflict, at a place called Allt-gamhna, where Henry Sinclair was slain with 120 of his company, and the rest chased and put to flight, who had all been destroyed had not the darkness of night favoured their flight."

"Which, coming to the ears of John Gordon, James MacRorie and Neil MacIan-MacWilliam, who had the conduct of the Earl of Sutherland's men, they pursued the Clan Gunn, and followed them to Lochbroom, in the height of Ross, whither they had fled; and then, meeting with them, they invade them at a place called Leckmelm. After a sharp skirmish, the Clan Gunn were overthrown, and chased, 32 of them slain, and their Captain, George, wounded and taken prisoner, whom they carry along with them unto Dunrobin, and there they deliver him unto Alexander, Earl of Sutherland. This happened in the year of God, 1586." [ [http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/FSCNS/Scots_NS/Hty_Sct/Conflict_Clans/CC/Allt_Camhna.html Conflicts of the Clans ] ] [ [http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/conflict/Allt_Camhna.html Conflicts of the Clans ] ]

References