Jacob Reger, Jr.5 (b c1765) never married, was a scout during Indian hostilities and noted hunter.
"The famous Indian Scout was employed with John Schoolcraft by the three frontier outposts, Bushes, Beeches and Nutters Forts. It was the duty of these men to travel two Indian trails from March until the snow of early Winter drove them into the settlements. Many times they were [able] to warn the settlers that Indians were coming. No place [in] all frontier history was harried more than these three settlements."One morning in April, 1790, Jacob Reger, Jr., started alone on one of his long scouting trips. He went to the Ohio River over the middle trail. Finding no Indian signs, Reger turned South far down the Ohio on the Seneca trail, a distance of some sixty miles. Reger was a marvel in being able to read the forest and tell the approach of danger by the movements of birds and the movement of big game.
"One rainy morning Reger came out on the Seneca trail and was startled to find a large body of Indian warriors had just crossed the river. Muddy water was still in their tracks where they had stepped off their rafts. Reger studied the forest and the trail and presently some blue jays started a great chatter in the distance. Somebody was disturbing their part of the forest. This fact caused Reger to risk walking the trail for a few hundred yards in the hopes of determining their numbers. Studying the forest as well as the trail, on looking ahead, discovered an Indian sitting on the ground and leaning against a tree. Reger studied the warrior. Finally raising his gun to shoot him when he discovered the Indian was asleep. Then Reger decided to capture the sleeping warrior, or at least make the attempt. Quickly leaving the trail, Reger walked around the tree, some distance away, then approached the tree as noiseless as a shadow and sprang on the sleeping warrior and quickly subdued him. Then he stood over the warrior with uplifted tomahawk and pointing to the trail, Reger said, "Tell me where those warriors are going, and for what purpose, and I will spare your life. If you do not, your scalp will hang in my belt." The Indian could talk a little English and said, "We go to kill all the settlers at Bushes and Beeches Forts and the settlers along the river, we kill them all."
"This certainly was information. Reger stood the warrior on his feet, then led him to the bank of the Ohio, and pointing to the West bank, said, "Now you swim the river." The warrior quickly plunged into the mighty current and did swim to the West bank. Reger (kept) standing on the East bank until the warrior crossed to the West but maturing his plan to defeat the war party. If a massacre was to be prevented, it was up to Reger to beat the Indians to the settlements by at least half of a day. There was but one way to do it. Reger was giant in stature, standing six foot and three inches in his moccasins, and a giant in physical strength and famous for his ability to run. Reger started on this long trip of one hundred and fifty miles, making a wide detour so as to avoid any hunters from the war party. Reger ran the remainder of that day until finally night settled over the forest. But no stopping. In the early part of the night, Reger turned onto the Seneca Trail where he could travel much faster. Reger ran the entire night, over hills and across valleys, as tireless as a wolf. Four rivers crossed his route, all at high water, besides numerous creeks, all out of banks. Reger swam the Elk, Hughs, Sandy and Westfork rivers. He was encouraged by one fact, the Indians were now behind, with an open trail before him. The following morning found Reger tired, but not exhausted, with the nearest fort many miles away. Reger said he trotted up hill and ran down hill and on the level, and kept the tireless gait until three P. M. the second day, when he arrived at Beeches fort exhausted. Reger delivered his message. Fast runners hurried around the country, until all settlers were ordered to hurry to the forts. By ten P. M. at night all families were in.
"Captain Hughs, an experienced military man, was at Nutters Fort. Captain Hughs (and) the young men at Nutters Fort had set out for Beeches Fort arriving at midnight, where he was met by Cottrill Talbot with all the men that could be spared from Bushes Fort. During the night Captain Hughs and Cottrill Talbot organized this small force into a fighting body. The following morning at four A. M. the gates of Beeches Fort was opened and Hughs and Talbot marched out at the head of the small, but fearless body of men to meet a much larger force of the enemy. Sending five scouts two or three miles ahead to discover the Indians, Hughs traveled West on the Seneca Trail, finally coming to the Westfork river and crossed this stream. This valley was covered with thick thickets and many large trees. The Seneca Trail approached this valley over level ground. Captain Hughs remarked to Talbot, "Here is the place to meet a superior force of the enemy." However, they marched on for a mile or more when the five scouts returned running with all possible speed and reported the Indians a mile South-west, a large force and running. Hughs gave the command to fall back to Bushy Run, (Westfork Valley) where Hughs and Talbot placed their men in a strong position across the Seneca Trail, with orders not to fire until Hughs gave the command. Hughs had just got his men in position when the Indians appeared in a large force, and running rapidly towards the concealed position of the Whites. As the Indians approached, Hughs gave the command to fire. Instantly, the Indian line was swept by a decimating volley from rifle men that never missed. Many Indians fell from the first volley. The Indians now took refuge behind trees and logs, but open woods all around them. The Indians had the advantage in numbers. Hughs had the advantage in position for his men were not visible. Then commenced a battle that raged for three hours in which no quarter was given and none was asked. Indian strategy pitted against the Whites. Many times the Indians tried flank moves, first to the right then to the left. Cottrill Talbot had command of the right wing, Hughs on the left. Every flank move was met by death dealing volleys that was rapidly thinning the Indian line. Captain Hughs was familiar with the Seneca language so he understood some commands given by their Chief, which was greatly to his advantage. No battle on frontier history was fought with such relentless fury and dogged determination. Retreat meant disaster for Hughs and his small force, and every man in his command knew it. Their homes and friends behind [them], they had to defeat the Indians. The Indian Chief checked on every move, at last in desperation, he called to some warriors near him to follow. The moment the chief stepped from the shelter of a tree, he was instantly killed. A warrior rushed from behind a tree and attempted to pick up the body of the their chief, but was instantly killed. Four more warriors rushed forward, but all were killed over the body of their chief. The Indian line now showed signs of a panic. The little army greatly encouraged though still cautious, increased their firing and raised one mighty cheer that echoed along the hills and valley of the Westfork. That was the finish. The Indians fled leaving their dead behind.
"But for Jacob Reger's achievement, a massacre would have left the three settlements a smoking ruin. An achievement that had no parallel in all border history. A man that had the physical strength and endurance to run for more than twenty-four hours, across hills and valleys and swim four rivers without food or rest, certainly received strength from the Divine Providence.
"In 1797, Jacob Reger went to Fort Washington where he remained for some time. One morning he left the fort with his gun across his shoulder and entered the forest near the fort and was never seen or heard of afterwards."[1]
Compiled by Dan Hyde
1. "A Genealogical History of the Talbot, Hall, Reger, Martin Families of Barbour County, West Virginia 1780-1880," by Columbus C. Talbot. Found in HCPD Library.