In 1396, the
Battle of the North Inch took place in
Perth, Scotland and was fought as a
trial by combat in front of
Robert III of Scotland. On one side were the confederation of Clan Chattan and on the other side was the
Clan Cameron. Thirty warriors were selected to represent each side, but one of the Chattan men fell sick prior to the commencement of the battle and it was therefore proposed that the Camerons should lose one man to keep the numbers even on each side. by trade volunteered to take the sick man's place on the condition that he would be paid a fee if he survived. Keltie stated that Henry was the only one of the survivors on the Chattan side who was not wounded and that
by his excellence as a swordsman had mainly contributed to gain the day. According to Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, they are known as
Sliochd a Ghobha Chrom and that Henry had twelve followers who to keep in his favor learned to make swords and how to use them.
The Clans, Septs, and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands states under the heading CLAN MACPHERSON SEPTS that "(4)
Gow, MacGowan. - Gow in Gaelic signifies Smith. The Gows of Clan Chattan are said to be descendants of Henry of the Wynd, the bandy-legged smith of Perth, who fought at the celebrated battle of the North Inch of Perth. This branch of the Clan Chattan has long been known as ''Sliochd a' Ghobha Chrom'' (the race of the bandy-legged smith). It is possible that a number of families rejoicing in this well-known name of Smith may be descendants of Henry Gow." Referencing the battle from the same book, Adam's wrote: "During 1396 occurred the celebrated combat on the North Inch of Perth, where, in order to settle a question of dispute, the exact nature of which has not been preserved, before King Robert III and his Court, thirty representatives of the Clan Chattan encountered an equal number of the "Clan Kay" (the precise identity of the contestants is, however, uncertain). In this contest, the Clan Chattan were the victors, not, however, before they had lost nineteen of their number. Of the Clan Kay, twenty-nine bit the dust. The remaining man escaped by swimming across the Tay. In the Clan Chattan it was handed down that this contest was between the Davidsons, as "eldest cadet" of Clan Chattan, and the Macphersons, as "heir-male," obviously for the honour of "principal cadet" under the heir-of-line chief, The Mackintosh, and the aftermath of their quarrel at the Battle of Invernahavon. That the Macphersons won the positions of a place at the right of Mackintosh and
Ceann Cath within Clan Chattan (the normal right of the "principal cadet") can only suggest the unpredictable result of trial by combat (App. XXIX). ==Initial Residence Within Clan Chattan==