DECEMBER 7:

1941 WAR WITH JAPAN Ottawa Ontario - Canada the first of the Western allies to declare war on Japan, Finland, Hungary, and Rumania; shortly after Japanese bomb US base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. US, Britain and other allied countries follow the next day.

1837 Toronto Ontario - Upper Canada Governor Francis Bond Head 1793-1875 orders Lt. James Fitzgibbon 1780-1863 to march with Allan MacNab, 1000 loyalist volunteers and 500 militia to Montgomery's Tavern 8 km north of Toronto; troops burn tavern, disperse rebels, capture rebel commander Anthony Van Egmond 1771-1838; William Lyon Mackenzie flees into exile in the US, effectively ending the rebellion in Upper Canada.

Acheson Gosford Irvine 1837-1916 soldier, mounted police officer, prison warden, born at Quebec City in 1916; died there Jan. 09, 1916. Irvine served with the Quebec Rifles on the Red River expedition of 1870; stayed in Manitoba in command of the Provisional Battalion of Rifles; 1975 joined the North West Mounted Police; 1876-80 NWMP Assistant Commissioner; 1880-86 third Commissioner; warned that harsh Indian settlement policy could lead to rebellion; 1885 led a column of police to Prince Albert during the North West Rebellion; 1886 resigned after criticism for inaction during the Rebellion; 1892-1913 warden of Stony Mountain Penitentiary; 1913-14 warden, Kingston Penitentiary.

Thelma Chalifoux 1929- Metis activist, consultant, born on this day at Calgary, Alberta. Chalifoux studied at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, and Lethbridge College; started her career working with the Company of Young Canadians; Chairwoman of the Metis National Council Senate and Vice-President of the Aboriginal Women's Business Development Corporation and the Provincial Association of Friendship Centres; Member, RCMP K Division, Elders Advisory Committee; Nov. 26, 1997 appointed to the Senate by Jean Chrétien, the first Metis to hold a Senate seat.

1869 Winnipeg Manitoba - John Christian Schultz 1840-1896 captured with Charles Mair and Thomas Scott, a Canada Firster and Orangeman; leading a group of 45 Ontario settlers from Portage La Prairie on their way to take over Fort Garry; imprisoned by Louis Riel's provisional government.

December 7, 1855:  The Walla Wallas attack Nathan Olney's volunteers, who still hold Pio-pio-mox-mox and four others prisoner.  Pio will resist being bound, and he and three of his men are killed.  His scalp and ears will be paraded through white settlements.  This action would move many neutral tribes to a war status.

December 7, 1804: Lewis & Clark go on a buffalo hunt with Big White

1770 Churchill Manitoba - Samuel Hearne 1745-1792 sets out west from Fort Prince of Wales on Hudson Bay on his third expedition to find a passage, by river or sea, across the Barren Lands; with Chipewyan chief Matonabee c1737-1782; travel to Alcantara Lake, and then north to the Coppermine River; first European to see the Arctic Ocean.

1729 Toronto Ontario - Mississauga Indians sign treaty giving up title to 5 million hectares, including Norfolk, Wentworth and Haldimand counties.

1649 Huronia Ontario - Jesuit priest Charles Garnier killed by Iroquois during attack on St-Jean mission; canonized by Pope Pius XI on June 29, 1930. 
 
 
 

BACKGROUND:
 

From http://www.usgennet.org/usa/or/county/wallowa/1889volumeIpage550-571.htm
 

Among the killed of the seventh was the celebrated chief of the Walla Wallas, Peu-peu-mox-mox or the "Yellow Serpent." Of the circumstances of his death, Colonel Kelly in his dispatch to Adjutant Farrar, dated December 8, 1855, said: "Among those killed yesterday was the noted chief of the Walla Wallas, the celebrated Peu-peu-mox-mox. He was taken prisoner by my command on the fifth instant, near his camp on the Touchet, and during the battle yesterday made an effort to escape. In doing so he was killed, together with four others who were made prisoners at the same time, and who also attempted to get away."

The killing of Peu-peu-mox-mox was not only of importance because of his prominent position among the Indians of the confederated tribes hostile to the Whites, and his great wealth and influence with those tribes, but because it has been the great subject of comment by those who, following the example of Major-General Wool, have sought some shadow of justification for their unceasing denunciation of the people of Oregon and Washington, their denial of common sympathy, their repudiation of the just and well-founded claims of indemnity and protection from the national government. From one end of the federal Union to the other, the slaying of Peu-peu-mox-mox has been denounced as a treacherous and cold-blooded murder.

It is true there was great rejoicing among Oregonians and Washingtonians at the death of that perfidious and mischief-making Indian. But was there no occasion for it? It is true that volunteers thought they had done inestimable service, when the scourge in that section of country was powerless for further evil. It is too true that it was in ill taste for the soldiery of a civilized race to collect as trophies portions of the scalp and ears of the deceased chieftain. But much may be said in extenuation. Indian Agent Nathan Olney, in reporting to Superintendent Palmer this occurrence, states as follows:

"We arrived near the camp (Walla Wallas) just before night (the fifth of December), and were met by Peu-peu-mox-mox and about fifty of his men with a white flag. They asked for a talk. We halted (Colonel Kelly's command) and demanded what he wanted. He said peace. We told him to come with us and we would talk. He said no. We then told him to take back his flag and we would fight. He said no. We then told him to take his choice, - go back and fight, or come and stop with us. He chose the latter. We retained him until the next day. We tried to come to an understanding, but could not.

"We still retained him as a prisoner, with four of his men who came along with him. The next morning, the seventh, a large force attacked us as we left camp. In trying to escape from their guard during the seventh, they were killed."

>From all that can be gathered from the witnesses of his death, whilst we may without stint reprobate the indignities to his person as unbecoming the spirit of the age, yet his killing was demanded by every principle justified in war (1). For months he had been endeavoring to alienate the Indians from their friendship for the Whites. Less than a month before he had seized and sacked Fort Walla Walla. His threats of intention to cut off the party of Governor Stevens, as the latter should return from the Blackfoot council, were oft repeated. The testimony of Agent Olney gives the falsehood to the charge that he was entrapped by a flag of truce. He came in voluntarily. He had his choice of peace or war. He consented to remain with the force of Colonel Kelly, as a pledge of his adherence to the former. While the battle was raging, he rose upon his guard and sought to slay them, violating his parole of peace; and, having learned the strength of the Whites, he attempted to escape and join his people. His killing under the circumstances was a legitimate consequence of the war.  Self-protection, self-defense and military judgment alike demanded it. And nothing is hazarded in saying, that had the chieftain been the hostage of General Wool, and had made the attempt to escape during an engagement, his life would as promptly have been forfeited.

The battle was fought on the line of the two territories. Most of the Indians engaged belonged to the territory of Oregon. But the inseparable relations of the tribes east of the Cascades, on both sides of the Columbia river, made those tribes the common enemy of Oregon and Washington; and the morale of  this defeat was vastly beneficial.

After the battle of Walla Walla, the volunteers went into winter quarters in the country of the indians whom they had so signally defeated, protecting the few straggling settlers of the upper country, overawing the hostile Indians and preventing acts of reprisal upon friendly bands, and keeping the communication open with The Dalles. Their camp was changed occasionally to secure feed for the horses. It was a severe and dreary winter to those patriotic men, who willingly gave up the comforts of home and a milder climate, accompanied with the comforts of life. They were exposed to a winter temperature of twenty degrees below zero, and were denied all its necessaries. Without sufficiency of blankets, clothing and food, they patiently waited till spring should open, and active operations in the field be resumed. On the 21st of December, Thomas R. Cornelius, Captain of Company D, had been elected colonel of the regiment, in place of Colonel James W. Nesmith, resigned. Narcisse E. Cornoyer, Captain of the company of scouts, (K), succeeded Major Mark A. Chinn, Antoine River succeeding to the command of Company K. During the winter, a battalion of recruits had been formed in Willamette valley, from which Colonel Cornelius' command was strengthened early in March, they taking the places of volunteers discharged, whose terms of enlistment had expired.