The battle of Boloyne was in reality an inter-clan skirmish . It happened at a time when the Keppoch MacDonalds were closely tied to Clan Mackintosh through marriage. The Camerons were neighbours and the two clans were usually allies. On this occasion the Camerons led by Alan Beag of Tomnacharraich raided the Mackintosh lands to the east and dared the Keppochs to interfere as they drove their  booty homewards through the Braes. The furious Mackintosh who was  brother in law to the  Keppoch Chief asked for his assistance in recovering his property.  The young Iain Dubh of Bohuntine led a party of his father’s warriors  to intercept the raiding party. The resultant skirmish ended with the Camerons being annihilated and the cattle returned to their rightful owner.  Iain Dubh, in pursuit of the survivors, caught up with the leader at this stone and butchered him there.

This incident has been recorded in D.C. MacPherson’s writings and also in the verses  of Alan the Ridge the poet in exile. See  below

A chiad sonn diubh thrèig a'Cheapach 

Dhearbh e ghaisge'm brais na h-oige,

 La Bhoth-loinn a chuir e'm batal 

Thill e chreach gu Mac an Tòisich:

Dh' thàg e Camshronaich san araich

Bu bheag an àireamh shàbhail beò diubh 

Dh' thàg e'n ceannard aig Clach Ailein

'S toitean farranach air fhèosaig

The first warrior to leave Keppoch

Proved his mettle in impetuous youth,

 He fought the Battle of Boloyne

 And returned the foray to MacIntosh;

He left Camerons on the field

Very few of whom survived

He left their leader at Allan's Rock

 With gruesome cutlets on his beard.

“Beside John, Ranald Mór had, by McIntosh of Kyllechie's daughter, Alastair Bhoth-Fhloinn (Bolyne) and Ranald. You remember all about the " Battle of Bolyne." The Camerons made a raid on the MacKintosh and raised his creach. Allan Cameron = Ailein Beag Thom-a'-charraich, was at their head. When in Glenturret he sent a messenger to Ranald Mór who was badly with pleurisy, at Coille-Diamhain, the then seat of Keppoch, to tell him his father-in-law's creach was passing by, daring him to prevent the Camerons from passing. Alastair Bhoth-Floinn, his eldest, had a slight arrow wound on his foot & excused himself. So your Progenitor was sent (to meet them) at the head of the Braerians. Of course the Creach was taken from the Camerons. Allan Beag was killed at Clach-Ailein on the hill-side some two miles from Bolyne. Clach-Ailein is the boundary between the Mcintosh & Walker there. I went to see it in 1876. When John Dubh returned his father asked him what did he do with them.

•Chuir mi am fear mu dheireadh dhiubh thair Lochaidh," said John.

" Cha tillinn-sa gus an cuirinn clach 'us aol mu'n sroin (- imprisoning)," said his father. Alexander was rife with jealousy, and when John was on his way home he set a fierce hound after him. John knew his brother too well, so he killed the hound with his sword. John, as I said, followed the last of the Camerons to Gairlochy. When that Cameron got across he fixed an arrow at John, saying:

" Có dhiu's fhearr, an t-iubhar sin,

Na iubhar Loch-a-Tréig? "

Which yew arrow is the best,

 Mine or the Loch Treig yew?”

John stooped himself & was missed; so he fires an arrow retorting —" Có dhiu's fhearr, an t-iubhar sin na 'n t-iubhar agad fhéin?" and the Cameron fell”.