The fake peace talk that killed 24 Apaches in Arizona

King Woolsey’s Deadly Betrayal of Apache Chiefs

Fish Creek Canyon in Arizona’s Pinal Mountains holds one of the territory’s darkest secrets from 1864.

Rancher King Woolsey rode into Apache country with thirty settlers to recover stolen cattle, but found himself surrounded by 250 Tonto Apache warriors near water holes called “tanks.”

Woolsey called for peace talks with six Apache chiefs, then tipped his hat as a signal. His men opened fire instantly, killing five chiefs and twenty-four more Apaches as they fled through the canyon’s narrow passages.

The stream ran red with blood, earning its grim name of Bloody Tanks Wash. Arizona’s territorial government rewarded Woolsey with military rank for the massacre.

Here’s the full story of this treacherous ambush and how to explore the rugged canyon where it happened.

Cattle Thieves Pushed Woolsey to Gather a Posse

King Woolsey got some settlers together in January 1864 after thieves stole cattle from ranches near Prescott. The Yavapai had taken cattle from ranches that fed miners in the Agua Fria area.

Woolsey brought together about 30 settlers and 15 Maricopa warriors to find the thieves. The angry group left from Woolsey’s Agua Caliente ranch, hoping to get their animals back.

They moved fast through rough Arizona land, looking for signs of the missing cattle.

Tracking Footprints Led the Group Into Apache Land

The group reached where the Salt and Verde Rivers meet on January 22.

They followed Indian trails up the Salt River for about 15 miles before making Fort Badger as a base. Woolsey and his men saw clear signs of stolen cattle being taken deeper into Apache land.

The tracks showed several animals moving together, matching what they thought about their stolen livestock. The settlers kept going as the trail got fresher in the hard desert ground.

The Expedition Pushed Through Dangerous Canyon Terrain

Woolsey’s group traveled all day on January 23 through what they called the “big canyon.” They climbed over a large mountain on the south side of the river, moving through steep cliffs and narrow passes.

The trip through Salt River Canyon was risky, with loose rocks and poor visibility. Apache lookouts likely saw the settlers coming during this part of the trip.

The group moved carefully, knowing they were being watched as they got within 12 miles of the main Salt River Canyon.

The Morning Revealed Hundreds of Apache Warriors

On the morning of January 24, Woolsey’s party found the Apache camp they had been tracking. They came upon about 250 Tonto Apaches gathered near water holes locals called “tanks.”

The Apache warriors looked ready to fight, wearing war paint and feathers. The two groups faced each other across the canyon with the water holes between them.

Woolsey saw his small group was far outnumbered by the Apache warriors who held the high ground around the water.

Both Sides Squared Off Across the Water Holes

The settlers and Apaches kept their distance, each group staying in safe spots near the natural water basins. No one made the first move to attack, creating a tense standoff in the desert heat.

Woolsey’s men stayed close together, weapons ready, while the Apache warriors spread out among the rocks and brush.

The tanks of water sat between them, a vital resource in the harsh landscape that neither group wanted to leave.

Woolsey Called for a Meeting With Apache Leaders

Seeing they had fewer men, Woolsey asked for a talk with the Apache leaders to discuss terms. Six Apache chiefs agreed to meet in the open ground between the two forces.

The settlers watched as the tribal leaders walked forward, thinking they were starting peace talks. Woolsey secretly told his men to get ready to attack while acting like they wanted peace.

The Apache chiefs came forward not knowing Woolsey had already planned to kill them.

A Hat Tip Triggered the Deadly Ambush

During the fake peace talks, Woolsey had told his men to attack when he tipped his hat. When he gave the signal, the settlers fired without warning.

Five of the six Apache chiefs fell dead right away, shot at close range. The one surviving chief managed to escape in the chaos that followed.

The settlers’ first shots killed the leaders of the Apache band, causing confusion as gunfire broke out across the meeting ground.

Blood Turned the Stream Red as Apaches Fled

The settlers and their Maricopa friends killed at least 24 Apaches in the attack that followed. Only one man from Woolsey’s group died in the fighting.

Most Apache deaths happened at a narrow spot in the canyon as they tried to run uphill. The stream running through the area turned red with blood, giving Bloody Tanks Wash the name it still has today.

The Apaches, without leaders and under heavy fire, ran in all directions trying to escape the trap.

Settlers Chased Down Survivors Through the Canyon

Woolsey’s men chased the running Apaches through Fish Creek Canyon, shooting those who fell behind. The surviving Apaches scattered into the nearby mountains, looking for safety in places they knew well.

The settlers took scalps from the dead Apaches, including the five chiefs killed during the talk.

Ammi White’s half-brother was the only person from Woolsey’s group to die, killed during the wild gunfight after the first attack.

The Final Count Showed Dozens of Native Deaths

When the fighting stopped, more than 30 Native Americans lay dead around the tanks and up the canyon. The killing site was about 12 miles from the main Salt River Canyon, in an area the Apaches thought was pretty safe.

The surviving Apaches ran deeper into the Superstition Mountains, carrying news of the betrayal.

Woolsey’s men gathered their trophies and got ready to return home, thinking they had done well even though they didn’t get back all their cattle.

Arizona Officials Praised the Bloody Ambush

Governor John N. Goodwin appointed Woolsey Lieutenant-Colonel of the Arizona territorial militia after the attack.

The first Territorial Legislature voted to formally commend King Woolsey and his volunteers for their actions.

Their official praise highlighted “taking the lives of numbers of Apaches, and destroying the property and crops in their country.”

What later generations would call a massacre became celebrated as a victory among Arizona Territory settlers, who saw it as justified retaliation for livestock raids.

Visiting Fish Creek Canyon in the Pinal Mountains, Arizona

You can explore Fish Creek Canyon where the 1864 Bloody Tanks Massacre happened when rancher King Woolsey ambushed Tonto Apache chiefs.

Start at Fish Creek Bridge on State Route 88 at milepost 223.5 – no permits needed for hiking.

The 6.3-mile round trip has 950 feet of elevation gain and involves technical boulder scrambling where you’ll need to remove your pack for tight spots.

You’ll need a high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle to reach the trailhead.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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