Tso-ay
Tso-ay in 1885
Nickname(s)Peaches
Bornc. 1853 (1853)
Chiricahua country
Died(1933-12-16)December 16, 1933
Cibecue, Arizona
AllegianceChiricahua Apache Indians
Years of service1880–1886
RankScout
Battles/warsApache Wars
Other workrancher

Tso-ay, also known as Panayotishn or Pe-nel-tishn, today widely known by his nickname as "Peaches", (c. 1853 – December 16, 1933) was a Chiricahua,[1] Western Apache warrior, who also served as a scout for General George Crook during the Apache wars.[2] Tso-ay was wounded while fighting alongside Geronimo and Chihuahua against Mexican troops, who had ambushed them after the Apache had crossed the border while being pursued by American troops.[3]

Early life

Before serving as a scout for the army, Tso-ay rode with Chatto in a raid. The raid consisted of twenty six men and they traveled 400 miles. They covered between seventy five and one hundred miles a day and killed twenty six settlers. During the raid, Tso-ay, deciding he had had enough of raiding, left the war party to return to the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.[4] Following this Tso-ay was captured by Lieutenant Britton Davis who was accompanied by thirty scouts and some Tonto Apache.[5] Davis sent a telegram to Crook notifying him of the capture of Tso-ay, and Crook requested that Davis enlist Tso-ay as a scout, if Tso-ay was willing. Tso-ay joined and was sent to meet with Crook at Willcox, where he was given the nickname "Peaches",[6] because of his fair complexion and the smoothness of his skin.[7] Tso-ay led Crook and his men into the upper Rio Bavispe and brought them to the camps of Chato and Benito.[8]

Tso-Ay was one of Crook's primary scouts and played a major role in leading the army into several of the strongholds the Apache had in Mexico.[9] Although Tso-ay had served loyally he was exiled with Geronimo to Florida following the Apache wars.[7]

He retired in Cibecue and shortly before his death in 1933 he converted to Christianity.[10]

Legacy

Tso-Ay has been mentioned in Valdez is Coming, a western novel by Elmore Leonard.[11]

References

Bibliography

  • Blackman Nunis, Doyce (1992). The life of Tom Horn revisited. Golden West Books. ISBN 978-0870951077.
  • Faulk, Odie B. (1993). The Geronimo Campaign. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195083514.
  • Hayes, Alden C. (2000). A Portal to Paradise. University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0816521449.
  • Jastrzembski, Joseph C. (2007). Paul C. Rosier (ed.). The Apache Wars: The Final Resistance. Chelsea House. ISBN 978-0791093436.
  • Langellier, John P. (2011). Southern Arizona Military Outposts. Arcadia. ISBN 978-0738579924.
  • Leonard, Elmore (2012). Valdez Is Coming. William Morrow & Company. ISBN 978-0062227850.
  • Radbourne, Allan (1 January 2005). Mickey Free: Apache Captive, Interpreter, and Indian Scout. Arizona Historical Society. ISBN 978-0-910037-46-4.
  • Thrapp, Dan L. (1979). The Conquest of Apacheria. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0806112862.
  • Worcester, Donald E. (1979). The Apaches: Eagles of the Southwest. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0806114958.
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