When Huntly came to terms with Montrose, Ogilvy remained a royalist, and he also prevailed on the Viscount Aboyne not to join his father in the south.
[1] Learning in May 1639 of another projected rendezvous of Covenanters at Turriff, Ogilvy proposed that an attack should be made on them, and, with Sir John Gordon of Haddo, he was appointed joint general of the forces.
On the 22nd the barons left the town, and marched towards Strathbogie, where they learned of the proposed expedition of the northern Covenanters to join Montrose at Aberdeen.
Deciding to bar their way, and, crossing the River Spey under the leadership of Ogilvy, they drew up on higher ground within two miles of Elgin.
Montrose having left Aberdeen for the south, the northern royalists had an opportunity of retaliation, and Ogilvy joined Aboyne and others in spoiling the Earl Marischal's lands.
About September 1639 Ogilvy went south to the king, and during his absence his palace at Banff and his country house at Inschedour were looted by the Covenanters under General Robert Monro.