Proceeding still further northward, to a
point a little beyond Loch-head, the traveller will there observe a
small rivulet crossing the road on its way to join Loch Davan, tho twin
lake to Loch Kinnord. From this point the old Roman road stretches away
westward over Culbleen, and little more than a stone-throw along it from
the puiblic road was fought the battle of Clulbleen on the early morning
of St. Andrew's Day, 30th November, 1335. Sir Andrew Murray, then Regent
of Scotland, on behalf of the youthful King, David II., was at the time
employed on some business on the English border, and David de
Strathbogie, Earl of Athole, taking advantage of his temporary absence,
not only broke out in open rebellion, but actually laid seige to
Kildrummy Castle, in which the Regent's wife, Christian Bruce, a sister
of the late King Robert I., was then residing. On receiving this
intelligence, Murray marched rapidly to the north at the head of some
800 horsemen, and occupied the "Ila of Logie-Ruthvan," now represented
by the farmhouse of Upper Ruthven, and lying about a mile westward from
Culbleen. At his approach, Atholc raised the seige of Kildrummy, and,
marching his army of 3000 troops southward from Strathdon, encamped in
the forest of Culbleen, near the east end of the old Roman road, from
whence his camp fires could be seen at night by the royal troops lying
at Logie-Ruthvan.
On the night previous to the battle a man named John Craig arrived at
Logie-Ruthvan with 300 men for the Regent from Kildrummy Castle. Craig
had previously been taken prisoner by Athole, and, being in honour bound
to pay a heavy ransom on the morrow, was naturally anxious to get rid of
this obligation. He accordingly offered to guide the royal troops in tho
dark by a circuitous path through the forest, so as not only to reach
the enemy, unperceived but actually get in behind them. His offer being
accepted and skilfully carried out, the rebels were taken by surprise
and completely routed, a number of their leaders being slain or taken
prisoners, while Athole himself was killed, fighting bravely, beneath a
huge oak tree. His friend and follower, Sir Robert Menzies, with a
number of his men, escaped into the "pool" or castle on the island in
Loch Kinnord, but had to surrender at discretion the following day, and
make his peace, as best he could, with the Regent. Although the battle
of Culbleen cannot bo classed as a great conflict, it nevertheless had
far-reaching consequences, and can certainly be reckoned as one of tho
decisive battles of Scotland, stamping out the rebellion, as it did, at
a single blow, while establishing David Bruce on the throne of his
father. King Robert. |
