In April 1689 John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee or "Bonnie Dundee", raised the standard of James VII on the hill Dundee Law, in the city of Dundee, Scotland. His support came from the Catholic Highland Clans (mostly from Clans Cameron, Donald, Stuart and McLean) and became known as the "Jacobites" including Hallyburton of Pitcur. Coming from Inverness over the Corrieyairack and Drumochter Passes, he had raided Perth on 10 May 1689.
Hugh McKay was commander-in-chief of the Government forces in Scotland known as the "Covenanters" or less commonly "Williamites" for their support of William III of Orange. They marched against the Jacobites. His forces largely came from the Scottish Lowlands but also included professional Highland soldiers who fought against their close relatives (a possible solution for the "Auntie" question).
On 26 July 1689, although they were outnumbered 2 to 1, the Jacobites ambushed the Covenanter army of 4000 men under General Hugh McKay at the Pass of Killiecrankie which is a very narrow and steeply sided mountain pass between Blair Atholl and Pitlochry, in Perthshire. The Jacobites overwhelmed the Covenanters and their victory was absolute, however Dundee had been mortally wounded in the initial charge down the hillside. He could direct the battle and learn of his victory but died soon after. The Jacobites had no leader capable of replacing him and were later defeated at the Battle of Dunkeld. The first Jacobite Uprising ended on 1 May 1690.
I grew up understanding brankie to be a reference to violence (perhaps an extension of the military comparison to a spruce tree being taken yet a step farther from the original). With that in mind you see a slightly different scene with the phrase "Whaur hae ye been sae brankie-o" being a reference to the soldier being covered in blood/gore. For "Or I had fed an Atholl/Athole gled" I've heard a variety of interpretations, gled being a type of bird feeding on corpses or by colloquialism a type of person with a variety of motives and atholl referencing Blair Atholl at one end of Killiecrankie or Athole being an old name for Perthshire. As far as the Auntie bit, while it could be a reference to Mary or the fact that he may have encountered close relatives on the battlefield my personal belief is that Burn's simply inserted it as a euphemism like saying "I've fought everyone". With all that in mind the translation I was taught from childhood goes as follows:
Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad? Where have you been, fine lad?
Whaur hae ye been sae brankie-o? Where have you been so violently?
Whaur hae ye been sae braw, lad? Where have you been, fine lad?
Cam' ye by Killiecrankie-o? Did you come from Killicrankie?
Aye an' ye had been whaur I hae been Aye and if you'd been where I've
Ye wadna been sae cantie-o Ye wouldn't be so cheerful [been
Aye an' ye had seen what I hae seen Aye and if you'd seen what I've
On the braes o' Killiecrankie-o On the hills of Killiecrankie[seen
I fought at land, I fought at sea I fought at home I fought at sea
At hame I fought my auntie-o At home I fought my auntie
But I met the Devil and Dundee But I met the Devil and Dundee
On the braes o' Killiecrankie-o On the hills of Killiecrankie
The bauld Pitcur fell in a furr The bold Pitcur fell in a furrow
And Clavers gat a clankie-o And Claverhouse got knocked
Or I had fed an Athol gled Or I had fed and Atholl/Athole gled
On the braes o' Killiecrankie-o On the hills of Killicrankie
Oh fie, MacKay, What gart ye lie Oh fie MacKay, what made you lie
I' the brush ayont the brankie-o? In the brush beyond the battle?
Ye'd better kiss'd King Willie's loff[It would've been better if you'd
kissed King Williams hand
Than come tae Killiecrankie-o than come to Killicrankie
It's nae shame, no it's nae shame It's no shame, no it's no shame
It's nae shame to shank ye-o It's no shame to flee
There's sour slaes on Athol braes There's sour sloes on Atholl/Athole
And the de'ils at Killiecrankie-o And the devils at Killicrankie[hills
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