16th century contemporary evidence Contemporary evidence for the battle is found in
The Calendar of Fearn which is a manuscript of the
Clan Ross. It records a Hugh Ross, some time
cadet of the Rosses of
Balnagowan, who was killed at Achnashellach in 1504/05. Contemporary documents, the
Munro Writs show that he was a procurator for Sir William Munro of Foulis.
17th and 18th century manuscripts Alexander Munro of Obsdale (c.1600–1649) Alexander Munro who was a cadet of the
Munro of Obsdale branch of the Clan Munro wrote a birth brief to
Charles I of England in the 17th century which mentions his ancestor William Munro of Foulis and states that he was killed by treachery. This birth brief was published in Alexander Mackenzie's
History of the Munros of Fowlis in 1898 and states:
William Munro of Foulis, plainly a knight most valiant for leading an army at the command of the King against certain factious northern men, he perished by treachery. Andrew Munro of Coul (1717) Andrew Munro of Coul wrote an
MS History of the Munros in about 1717 which was published in 1805 in the book
Chronological and Genealogical Account of the Ancient and Honorable Family of the Fowlis. This has a brief account of the skirmish stating that Munro was killed by Cameron and that:
the house was surrounded and refused to surrender.
19th century publications Memoirs of Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel (1842) The memoirs of
Ewen Cameron of Lochiel (d.1719) were published in 1842 and in the author's introduction chapter, which gives a history of the Clan Cameron, the following is mentioned regarding the feud between the Camerons against the Mackays and Munros during the chiefship of Ewen Cameron of Lochiel (d.1546).
Besides the other wars wherein Locheill was engaged, he had also a ruffle with the Barron of Rea, Chief of the Mackays, a people living many miles north of Lochaber. What the quarrall was, I know not, but it drew on an invasion from the Camerons, and that ane engagement wherein the Mackays were defeated, and the Laird of Foules, Chief of the Monros, who assisted them, killed upon the spot.
Alexander Mackenzie (1898) Alexander Mackenzie wrote an account of the Battle of Achnashellach in his book
History of the Munros of Fowlis in 1898. Mackenzie quote's Gregory's book for the events of 1502 as already mentioned above, and the Lochiel Memoirs also given above. ''Sir William is said to have been killed in the prime of his life, in 1505, at a place called Achnashellach or Achnaskellach, in Lochaber, by Ewen "MacAlein Mhic Dhom'huill Duibh", XIII. of Lochiel, in a raid which is thus described in Lochiels Memoirs. Besides the other wars wherein Lochiel was engaged, he had also a ruffle with Baron of Reay, Chief of the MacKays, a people living many miles north of Lochaber. What the quarrel was I know not, but it drew on an invasion from the Camerons, and that an engagement wherein the MacKays were defeated and the Laird of Fowlis, Chief of the Munros, who assisted them, was killed upon the spot.'' ''In 1502 a Royal Commission had been given to the Earl of Huntly, Thomas fourth Lord Lovat, and Sir William Munro of Fowlis, to proceed to Lochaber and let the King's lands of Lochaber and Mamore for the space of five years to true men, and this is what probably led to the raid and the collision with the Camerons in which Sir William was slain.''
Alister Farquhar Matheson (2014) Alister Farquhar Matheson writing in 2014, but with no quoted source gives more details of the battle. According to Matheson, the
Earl of Huntly, who was
James IV of Scotland's commander in the north, called on his deputy, Sir William Munro of Foulis to lead a punitive expedition against the rebel MacDonalds of Lochalsh. The Mackays of Strathnaver demonstrating their loyalty to the king, joined Sir William Munro's force. There is also a tradition that the
Clan Sutherland contributed a regiment as the Earl of Huntly's son, Adam was married to Elizabeth, the heiress to the
earldom of Sutherland. Ewen Cameron, chief of Clan Cameron was hereditary constable of
Strome Castle on behalf of the MacDonalds and he gathered a force to protect the lands of MacDonald of Lochalsh. Matheson tradition is that one of Cameron's officers was Alasdair MacRuairidh, chieftain of the
Clan Matheson North who crossed the narrows of Loch Carron with men from Fernaig and Strathascaig and joined the gathering of armed rebels. Cameron marched to the eastern borders of Lochcarron, at Achnashellach where the valley of Carron begins to narrow into Glen Carron which is steeper sided. At this location he laid an ambush to such good effect that William Munro's army was put to flight and Munro himself was slain in the action. This defeat was however only a temporary set back for Huntly's campaign and soon Strome Castle's garrison was forced to surrender. ==Aftermath==