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Tso-ay | |
|---|---|
 Tso-ay in 1885 | |
| Nickname(s) | Peaches |
| Born | c. 1853 Chiricahua country |
| Died | December 16, 1933 Cibecue, Arizona |
| Allegiance | Chiricahua Apache Indians |
| Years of service | 1880–1886 |
| Rank | Scout |
| Battles / wars | Apache Wars |
| Other work | rancher |
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
- ^ Faulk 1993, p. 36.
- ^ Jastrzembski 2007, p. 86.
- ^ Worcester 1979, p. 254.
- ^ Thrapp 1979, p. 271.
- ^ Blackman Nunis 1992, p. 28.
- ^ Thrapp 1979, p. 272.
- ^ a b Langellier 2011, p. 108.
- ^ Hayes 2000, p. 149.
- ^ Jastrzembski 2007, pp. 87.
- ^ Radbourne 2005, p. 259.
- ^ Leonard 2012, p. 61.
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.
