Strachan's plan was to advance with his own division to make it look as though his whole strength was just one hundred horse.
Strachan's one hundred dragoons then suddenly attacked Montrose's 40 horse who were forced backwards onto Montrose's foot soldiers who had not been deployed for battle and were easily thrown into confusion.
Montrose's foot soldiers amounted to no more than 1200, 400 of whom were Danes and Germans, and the rest raw levies from Orkney.
They were not accustomed to receiving a cavalry charge unsupported and while the German and Danish mercenaries fell back in some order, discharging a volley into the advancing horse, the Orcadians fell back in disorder.
Strachan's reserves, including his musketeers then fell upon the Royalists.
Menzies of Pitfoddels was shot dead at Montrose's side.
The remnants of his Royalist army tried to make a stand on the hillside on the wooded slopes of Craigcaoinichean.
Buchan states that the Munros and Rosses then came down from the hills, convinced at last to take their share in the victory.
However, historian C.I Fraser of Reelig states that the Munro clan had no cause to be hesitant about their part in this action and that John Buchan has done less than justice to it.

The Orcadians were cut down or drowned trying to cross the Kyle of Sutherland.
Montrose had been wounded several times and his horse was shot from underneath him.
He escaped on Crichton of Frendraught's horse, provided to him by Crichton himself.
Among the officers killed on Montrose's side were Thomas Ogilvey, Laird of Powrie, Gilbert Menzies, Laird of Pitfoddels, John Douglas, youngest son of William, Earl of Morton, Colonel J. Gordon, Major Lisle, Major Biggar, Major Guthrie, Captain Stirling (another source says he was executed), Capitain Powell, Captain Swan (another account says that he was banished but this could have been another man with the same name), Captain Erskine, Captain Garrie and Lieutenant Home (Holme).
There were also about 450 common soldiers killed and another 200 drowned.

According to Buchan, Urry was captured with 58 officers and nearly 400 soldiers.
According to the Montrose Memoirs, those taken prisoner were Urry, along with: Crichton, Viscount Frendraught, Colonel Thomas Gray, Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, Lieutenant-Colonel James Hay, Major Affleck, Captain John Spottiswood, Captain William Ross (banished to France for life), Captain Mortimer, Rittmaster Wallensius (possibly a Dane), Peter Suanes, Captain of Dragoons, Captain Warden (possibly an Englishman), Captain Auchinleck (possibly the same person recorded as Captain Affleck), Captain Lawson, Captain-Lieutenant Gustavus (possibly a Swede), Lieutenant Verkin (a foreigner), Lieutenant Andrew Glen, Lieutenant Rob Touch, Ernestus Buerham (possibly a Dane or Holsteiner), Laurence Van Luitenberge (possibly Dutch), Lieutenant David Drummond (banished to France), Lieutenant John Drummond, Lieutenant James Dun, Lieutenant Alexander Stewart, Cornet Ralph Marlie (Murray), Cornet Henrick Erlach (possibly a Holsteiner), Cornet Daniel Bennicke (possibly a Holsteiner), Ensign Robert Graham, Ensign Adrian Ringwerthe (possibly a Holsteiner), Ensign Hans Boaz (possibly a Holsteiner), 2 Quartermasters, 6 Sergeants, 15 Corporals, 2 Trumpeters, 3 Drummers and 386 common soldiers.

Strachan's force suffered just two men wounded and one trooper drowned.
His scout had been John Munro of Lemlair while Montrose's scout had been Robert Munro of Achness and historians have therefore speculated whether Munro of Achness had lured Montrose into a trap by giving him false information.
According to the Montrose Memoirs, Munro of Achness and his three sons all escaped death or capture at Carbisdale and do not appear in the Parliamentary records of proceedings against Montrose's followers.
However, historian Alexander Mackenzie states that Robert Munro of the Assynt, Inveran and Achness branch of the family, along with his two nephews, Hugh and John, were banished to the New England states of North America by Oliver Cromwell for having fought as Royalists at the B
Strachan's plan was to advance with his own division to make it look as though his whole strength was just one hundred horse. Strachan's one hundred dragoons then suddenly attacked Montrose's 40 horse who were forced backwards onto Montrose's foot soldiers who had not been deployed for battle and were easily thrown into confusion. Montrose's foot soldiers amounted to no more than 1200, 400 of whom were Danes and Germans, and the rest raw levies from Orkney. They were not accustomed to receiving a cavalry charge unsupported and while the German and Danish mercenaries fell back in some order, discharging a volley into the advancing horse, the Orcadians fell back in disorder. Strachan's reserves, including his musketeers then fell upon the Royalists. Menzies of Pitfoddels was shot dead at Montrose's side. The remnants of his Royalist army tried to make a stand on the hillside on the wooded slopes of Craigcaoinichean. Buchan states that the Munros and Rosses then came down from the hills, convinced at last to take their share in the victory. However, historian C.I Fraser of Reelig states that the Munro clan had no cause to be hesitant about their part in this action and that John Buchan has done less than justice to it.
The Orcadians were cut down or drowned trying to cross the Kyle of Sutherland. Montrose had been wounded several times and his horse was shot from underneath him. He escaped on Crichton of Frendraught's horse, provided to him by Crichton himself. Among the officers killed on Montrose's side were Thomas Ogilvey, Laird of Powrie, Gilbert Menzies, Laird of Pitfoddels, John Douglas, youngest son of William, Earl of Morton, Colonel J. Gordon, Major Lisle, Major Biggar, Major Guthrie, Captain Stirling (another source says he was executed), Capitain Powell, Captain Swan (another account says that he was banished but this could have been another man with the same name), Captain Erskine, Captain Garrie and Lieutenant Home (Holme). There were also about 450 common soldiers killed and another 200 drowned.
According to Buchan, Urry was captured with 58 officers and nearly 400 soldiers. According to the Montrose Memoirs, those taken prisoner were Urry, along with: Crichton, Viscount Frendraught, Colonel Thomas Gray, Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, Lieutenant-Colonel James Hay, Major Affleck, Captain John Spottiswood, Captain William Ross (banished to France for life), Captain Mortimer, Rittmaster Wallensius (possibly a Dane), Peter Suanes, Captain of Dragoons, Captain Warden (possibly an Englishman), Captain Auchinleck (possibly the same person recorded as Captain Affleck), Captain Lawson, Captain-Lieutenant Gustavus (possibly a Swede), Lieutenant Verkin (a foreigner), Lieutenant Andrew Glen, Lieutenant Rob Touch, Ernestus Buerham (possibly a Dane or Holsteiner), Laurence Van Luitenberge (possibly Dutch), Lieutenant David Drummond (banished to France), Lieutenant John Drummond, Lieutenant James Dun, Lieutenant Alexander Stewart, Cornet Ralph Marlie (Murray), Cornet Henrick Erlach (possibly a Holsteiner), Cornet Daniel Bennicke (possibly a Holsteiner), Ensign Robert Graham, Ensign Adrian Ringwerthe (possibly a Holsteiner), Ensign Hans Boaz (possibly a Holsteiner), 2 Quartermasters, 6 Sergeants, 15 Corporals, 2 Trumpeters, 3 Drummers and 386 common soldiers.
Strachan's force suffered just two men wounded and one trooper drowned. His scout had been John Munro of Lemlair while Montrose's scout had been Robert Munro of Achness and historians have therefore speculated whether Munro of Achness had lured Montrose into a trap by giving him false information. According to the Montrose Memoirs, Munro of Achness and his three sons all escaped death or capture at Carbisdale and do not appear in the Parliamentary records of proceedings against Montrose's followers. However, historian Alexander Mackenzie states that Robert Munro of the Assynt, Inveran and Achness branch of the family, along with his two nephews, Hugh and John, were banished to the New England states of North America by Oliver Cromwell for having fought as Royalists at the B
Battle of Carbisdale