Tso-ay

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]

Tso-ay
Tso-ay in 1885
Nickname(s)	Peaches
Born	c. 1853 (1853) Chiricahua country
Died	(1933-12-16)December 16, 1933 Cibecue, Arizona
Allegiance	Chiricahua Apache Indians
Years of service	1880–1886
Rank	Scout
Battles / wars	Apache Wars
Other work	rancher

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]