OS1/2/26/65

List of names as written Various modes of spelling Authorities for spelling Situation Description remarks
Site of CONFLICT between the Clans Campbell and Macdonald A.D. 1647 [Dunaverty] Site of Conflict between the Clans Campbell & Macdonald. William Hunter, Machribeg
A. McKerral, "Brunerican"
A. McNeil, Southend
265 This site was pointed out by the first author [authority] quoted and acknowledged by the others. The only account given is that a conflict at one time took place here between these clans, the Campbells gained the victory.
There is a small spot enclosed by a wall where three of the McDonalds lie buried.

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 65
Parish of Southend -- Argyll.

"After subduing Huntly, Lt. Genl. [Lieutenant General] Leslie marched south
and being joined by the Earl of Argyle at Inverary, they invaded Kintyre, &
after a skirmish which took place at Rownaherine, in the parish of Killean on
25th May 1647, they retreated to Dunaverty. Sir Alexander McDonald placed his
Kinsman, Archibald McDonald of Sanda assisted by Archibald Og, or young, his son
with 300 men in the fortress, with a few of the Clan McDonald who had joined
them, and went himself with his father and the remainder of his forces to Islay.
Genl. [General] Lelsie having been joined by the Marquis of Argyle & a vast number of his
clan who collected to his standard, as he went along, proceeded to Dunaverty
and regularly invested the Castle, which was for a considerable time most
gallantly defended against an Army ten times the number of the garrison.
During the month of June several desperate assaults were made upon it,
but the assailants were always repulsed with considerable loss. About the
10th. of July the besiegers discovered that the garrison was supplied with
water by means of pipes communicating with a spring without & a well within.
These were cut off & when a party from the fortress made an attempt to
supply themselves from a stream near the base of the rock, they were all slain.
The want of water, in the dry sultry month of July, drove the besieged to despair;
and as it was impossible to hold out any longer, a flag of truce was sent to Genl. [General]
Leslie & the Marquis of Argyle, offering to surrender on such terms as might be
agreed on, & after several stipulations proposed by Archibald Og MacDonald of Sanda
had been rejected, the garrison surrendered to the mercy of the Kingdom. Genl. [General] Leslie
afterwards made a distinction, that the besieged had yielded themselves to the Kingdom's
mercy and not to his, & availing himself of this infamous casuistry he caused as disgraceful,
bloody, and indiscriminate a massacre to take place as the pen of history has ever recorded".
New Stat. [Statistical] Account.

"There (Castle of Dunaverty) also, Alexander McDonald, known by
the name of Alister, son of Coll Kittach who had raised a party of
Irish & Highlanders, calling themselves Royalists, to assist Montrose
in the civil wars, had his last palladium - 300 of his men were pursued
by General Leslie, & besieged there in the year 1647. Being reduced to great
distress by the want of water, they were persuaded to surrender at discretion
after which they were barbarously massacred".
Old Stat. [Statistical] Account

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Alison James- Moderator, hillhere

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