After the Civil War, lawlessness swept through the Midwest. The Reno Gang, a group of brothers and associates from Indiana, carried out the first peacetime train robbery in the United States.
On October 6, 1866, the gang stopped an Ohio and Mississippi Railroad train near Seymour, Indiana. They stole thousands of dollars in cash and gold.
Their crime spree continued. The gang’s bold heists and violent reputation put towns on edge and inspired other outlaws.
Law enforcement struggled to keep up. Vigilante groups took justice into their own hands, leading to deadly confrontations.
Stories about the Reno Gang mix documented history with rumors of hidden loot. Some people believe part of their stolen fortune remains buried.
Modern adventurers, including television host Josh Gates, have searched for these treasures. The mystery continues to fascinate anyone interested in America’s first train robbers.
The Infamous Reno Gang: America’s First Train Robbers
The Reno Gang committed the first recorded train robbery in the United States during peacetime. Their crimes in the Midwest during the late 1860s changed how railroads and law enforcement responded to theft.
Origins of the Reno Family
The Reno family lived in Jackson County, Indiana, before the Civil War. They farmed but also became known for petty theft and fraud.
Frank, John, Simeon, and William Reno grew up in a place with little law enforcement. This allowed minor crimes to go unchecked.
During the war, some brothers served in the Union Army. Others faced accusations of profiteering or theft.
After the war, economic hardship and unrest in the region created new opportunities for crime. Locals often suspected the Reno brothers of arson, burglary, and horse theft.
Without strong evidence, they avoided conviction. This pattern of evading prosecution continued as their crimes escalated.
Formation of the Gang
By 1866, the Reno brothers gathered a group of associates from Indiana and Missouri. Many in the gang were former soldiers who struggled to find work.
The gang started with stagecoach and store robberies. They soon targeted county treasuries and banks.
On October 6, 1866, the gang stopped an Ohio and Mississippi Railroad train in Jackson County. They stole about $13,000 in cash and valuables.
This was the first documented train robbery in U.S. history. Their success encouraged similar crimes across the Midwest.
Railroads increased security. Express companies hired armed guards to protect shipments.
Key Members and Personalities
Frank Reno led and planned the gang’s operations. John Reno handled logistics.
Simeon Reno was known for his temper. William Reno was the youngest brother.
Albert Perkins and Charles Anderson joined for specific robberies. Informants warned the gang about law enforcement movements.
Frank acted strategically. John preferred negotiation and bribery.
Simeon was more reckless and often escalated confrontations. Their different personalities led to both early successes and later betrayals.
The Midwest Under Siege: Setting the Stage
After the Civil War, crime rose sharply in the Midwest. Expanding railroads carried money, gold, and goods, making them targets for outlaws.
Communities struggled to keep order. Armed gangs roamed the countryside.
Lawlessness After the Civil War
When the Civil War ended in 1865, thousands of soldiers returned home to uncertain futures. Many areas faced high unemployment and economic instability.
Small towns in the Midwest often lacked strong law enforcement. Sheriffs covered wide territories, and communication between towns was slow.
This made it easier for criminals to escape capture. Railroads became symbols of wealth and opportunity.
Trains carried large sums of cash for banks and businesses, as well as gold shipments. With few guards and long stretches of isolated track, they were vulnerable.
Some veterans, unable to find steady work, turned to crime. Others joined existing outlaw bands.
The result was an increase in armed robberies, stagecoach hold-ups, and thefts from freight cars.
Rise of Outlaw Gangs in the Region
The Midwest became home to several organized gangs, including the Reno Gang of Indiana. They were among the first to target trains, pulling off what is considered America’s first peacetime train robbery in 1866 near Seymour, Indiana.
These gangs often formed around family ties or shared wartime service. They used local knowledge of rail lines, roads, and river crossings to plan getaways.
Common patterns included:
- Hitting isolated targets with little law presence
- Operating in small, fast-moving groups
- Hiding stolen goods in remote areas or with trusted contacts
Their crimes inspired copycat groups across the region. The Midwest’s reputation for lawlessness grew, and train robbery became a defining chapter in its history.
Notorious Heists: The Reno Gang’s Train Robberies
The Reno Gang launched a series of robberies in the late 1860s that changed how criminals targeted railroads. Their actions forced rail companies to rethink how they protected cash and valuables.
The First Train Robbery in Seymour
On October 6, 1866, the Reno brothers staged the first moving train robbery in U.S. history. The heist happened near Seymour, Indiana, on an Ohio and Mississippi Railroad train.
They boarded the train while it was moving. The robbers uncoupled the express car, overpowered the messenger, and stole about $13,000 in cash and gold.
The Reno Gang planned the attack to avoid crowds and law enforcement at stations. The operation was quick, lasting only minutes, and they escaped before authorities responded.
This robbery shocked the public. Other outlaws soon tried similar crimes.
Techniques and Tactics Used
The Reno Gang used speed, surprise, and control in their robberies. They often struck at night, targeting trains with express shipments of money or gold.
Their method included:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Boarded the train while moving |
| 2 | Separated the express car from the rest of the train |
| 3 | Overpowered guards or messengers |
| 4 | Forced open safes or took unlocked shipments |
| 5 | Escaped before help could arrive |
They relied on inside information from informants, sometimes railroad employees, to know which trains carried valuable shipments.
The gang used local hideouts, including a hotel in Seymour, as staging points before and after their crimes.
Impact on Railroad Security
The Reno Gang’s robberies forced railroads to improve security measures. Before their crimes, most companies did not expect thieves to attack moving trains.
After the Seymour heist, railroads hired armed guards to ride in express cars. Companies began using stronger safes and secure locking systems to protect shipments.
The Pinkerton Detective Agency tracked the gang, marking one of the first major uses of private detectives for railroad protection.
These changes made future train robberies harder. The Reno Gang’s methods continued to influence criminals for years.
Tracking the Treasure: Legends and Lost Loot
The Reno Gang’s train robberies in the 1860s left behind missing gold and cash that no one ever recovered. Reports from the time mention stolen amounts worth hundreds of thousands in today’s money. Many believe some of it remains buried in rural parts of the Midwest.
The Mystery of the Hidden Fortune
The Reno Gang targeted trains carrying payrolls or bank shipments. After each heist, they hid the loot before lawmen or armed posses could catch them.
Some accounts suggest they buried stolen goods in remote farmland. Others claim they stashed loot in abandoned buildings.
Much of the gang’s wealth vanished after vigilantes captured and executed several members. Without confessions or recovered maps, no one knows the exact locations.
Historical records, such as court documents and newspaper reports, confirm the robberies but rarely explain what happened to the money. This gap keeps the story alive.
Cave Hideouts and Local Lore
In parts of Indiana and nearby states, residents still tell stories of caves once used by the Reno Gang. Some believe these caves were temporary hideouts for stolen goods.
One Expedition Unknown episode followed Josh Gates as he explored a possible cave linked to the gang. Local guides pointed out narrow passages and hidden chambers.
These caves often sit on private land, making access difficult for modern explorers. Still, the idea of a secret underground stash remains a popular part of local folklore.
Even without proof, caves near old rail lines seem like believable hiding places for stolen treasure.
Modern Searches for the Treasure
Today, professional treasure hunters and locals still search for the Reno Gang’s missing fortune. Some use metal detectors and ground-penetrating radar to scan old homesteads, fields, and caves.
Television crews, including those from Apple TV’s “America’s First Train Robbers”, document these searches.
Searchers often compare old maps with modern satellite images to find possible hiding spots. While no confirmed treasure has been found, the hunt continues.
For many, the search—traveling to remote sites, talking with locals, and piecing together clues—is as rewarding as finding the treasure itself.
Chasing Outlaws: Law Enforcement and Vigilante Justice
The Reno Gang’s crimes in the 1860s pushed lawmen and citizens to act. Their train robberies, bank thefts, and threats to townspeople forced both official and unofficial responses across Indiana and nearby states.
Challenges Facing Authorities
Local sheriffs and marshals often struggled to track the Reno Gang. Few officers worked in rural areas, and the gang knew the terrain well.
This advantage helped the outlaws evade capture.
The Pinkerton National Detective Agency joined the search. Detectives used undercover work and watched trains to gather evidence.
The gang’s network of safe houses and allies slowed the investigation.
Courts faced problems too. Witnesses feared retaliation, and some juries hesitated to convict.
Corruption in certain areas allowed charges to be dropped or reduced.
Communities grew frustrated by these delays. Each robbery, like the 1866 train heist near Seymour, Indiana, showed how difficult it was for law enforcement to stop organized criminals.
Vigilante Responses and Lynchings
Frustration pushed some citizens to act on their own. Vigilante groups formed and decided to punish the Reno Gang without waiting for trials.
In 1868, mobs stopped prisoners being moved for court hearings. They took several gang members, including Frank and John Reno, from custody and lynched them.
These lynchings became part of Reno Gang history, representing one of the largest vigilante executions in U.S. history.
These acts sparked debates over whether such actions protected communities or undermined the rule of law.
The Downfall of the Reno Gang
The Reno Gang’s criminal run ended quickly after several bold train robberies. Lawmen and angry citizens worked together to stop their thefts.
Their efforts led to arrests and a deadly confrontation with vigilantes.
Capture and Imprisonment
By 1868, the Reno brothers—Frank, Simeon, and William—became targets for both local sheriffs and federal detectives. Their robberies, including the first post–Civil War train robbery in Indiana, drew national attention.
Authorities tracked them across several states. Pinkerton detectives, hired by railroad companies, played a key role in finding and arresting gang members.
Lawmen placed the captured outlaws in jails across the Midwest. They sometimes moved prisoners under heavy guard to avoid lynch mobs.
A table of key arrests:
| Name | Date Arrested | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Frank Reno | July 1868 | Windsor, Canada |
| Simeon Reno | July 1868 | Windsor, Canada |
| William Reno | 1868 | Indiana |
Public anger over the gang’s crimes continued to grow. Many citizens doubted the courts would deliver justice.
Mob Justice and the Violent End
On December 12, 1868, a vigilante group in Seymour, Indiana, overpowered guards at the New Albany jail. They dragged Frank, Simeon, and William Reno from their cells and hanged all three men from the same beam.
This act of mob justice mirrored an earlier incident months before, when other Reno gang members were lynched by a similar group.
The hangings marked the final chapter in the gang’s violent history. Their deaths sent a warning to other outlaws in the Midwest that communities would act when legal systems seemed too slow.
Legacy of America’s First Train Robbers
The Reno Gang’s robberies in the mid-1860s set patterns that other criminals copied for decades. Their methods, targets, and bold timing shaped how train heists happened well into the late 19th century.
Stories, songs, and films later made them part of American history.
Influence on Future Outlaws
The Reno Gang was the first organized group in the United States to rob a moving train. Their 1866 Indiana heist showed that railroads could be lucrative targets.
Later gangs, such as the James-Younger Gang, studied these early crimes. They used similar tactics—boarding trains in rural areas, stopping them quickly, and focusing on express safes that carried cash, gold, or bonds.
These actions encouraged other outlaws to see railroads as vulnerable. By the 1870s and 1880s, train robberies became common in the American West.
Common patterns included:
- Small, mobile groups for quick getaways
- Nighttime raids to reduce witnesses
- Targeting express companies rather than passengers
The Reno Gang’s success and downfall also taught criminals the risks. Law enforcement began using armed guards and undercover agents, making future robberies harder.
Cultural Impact and Popular Media
The Reno brothers’ story spread quickly through newspapers. Detailed reports made them infamous far beyond Indiana.
Books, ballads, and films later portrayed them as both dangerous criminals and daring figures. This mix of fact and fiction blurred the line between history and legend.
Early Western movies often borrowed elements from the Reno robberies—masked men, steam locomotives halted in the night, and loot-filled express cars.
In popular culture, train robbers became symbols of the Wild West. Many depictions focused on adventure and left out the violence. This romanticized image still appears in modern media, keeping the memory of these first train robbers alive more than 150 years later.
Josh Gates and the Modern Adventure
Josh Gates travels across the Midwest to follow the trail of the Reno Gang, a group of 1860s outlaws known for America’s first train robberies. His journey blends historical research with on-location exploration.
He uses old records and modern tools to search for the gang’s rumored hidden fortune.
Expedition Unknown’s Investigation
In the Expedition Unknown episode “America’s First Train Robbers”, Josh Gates works with historians and local experts to piece together the Reno Gang’s movements. He studies court records, newspaper archives, and eyewitness accounts from the 19th century.
The investigation takes him to Indiana towns linked to the gang’s crimes. He visits train depots, former hideouts, and sites where the robberies happened.
Josh also uses metal detectors, ground-penetrating radar, and mapping software to search for the gang’s supposed buried loot. These methods help narrow down possible treasure locations, including a cave believed to be a stash site.
The episode combines travel, history, and hands-on searching. Modern technology helps in solving old mysteries.
Exploring the Sites Today
Many of the locations Josh visits still exist and can be explored by travelers interested in outlaw history. Towns like Seymour and Rockford, Indiana, preserve landmarks from the Reno Gang era.
Visitors can see historic train stations and walk through main streets where the gang once roamed. Local museums share more about their story.
Some sites offer guided tours that explain the events leading to the gang’s capture by a vigilante mob.
Travelers should check public access rules before visiting suspected treasure sites, as some are on private land. For those who enjoy mixing history with adventure, these locations offer a direct connection to one of America’s earliest organized crime stories.
The Enduring Mystery: Unanswered Questions
The Reno Gang’s story does not end with their capture or deaths. Many details about their crimes remain uncertain, and the fate of their stolen wealth still puzzles historians and treasure hunters.
Conflicting Accounts and Theories
Reports from the 1860s often contradict each other. Some newspapers claimed the Reno Gang committed the first U.S. train robbery in 1866, while others credit a later heist in Ohio.
Eyewitness statements also vary. In some accounts, the gang worked alone. In others, they may have had help from corrupt lawmen or railroad insiders.
A few historians suggest other outlaws, like Frank and Jesse James, were wrongly linked to certain robberies. The Legends of America account of the Reno Gang notes that rumors often blurred fact and fiction, making it hard to confirm exact events.
Disagreements extend to the gang’s final days. Some records say vigilantes killed every surviving member. Others suggest one or two escaped and disappeared, possibly taking stolen gold with them.
Why the Treasure Remains Lost
The Reno Gang likely stole tens of thousands of dollars in cash and gold. Exact figures are unclear because banks and railroads sometimes underreported losses to avoid public panic.
People have suggested possible hiding spots for decades. These include farmland near their Indiana home, caves along the Ohio River, and sites in Kentucky where they were last seen.
Treasure hunters like those featured on Expedition Unknown have searched these areas with modern tools. No confirmed stash has been recovered.
Natural changes to the land, lost maps, and secrecy may have ensured the loot’s disappearance. Without solid evidence, the location of the Reno Gang’s treasure remains one of the Midwest’s most enduring mysteries.
Planning Your Own Treasure Hunt
Exploring historic outlaw locations can be exciting, but it requires preparation and respect for the land. Visitors should balance the thrill of discovery with safe travel practices and care for historical sites.
Travel Tips for Reno Gang Sites
Many Reno Gang-related locations are in southern Indiana, including areas near Seymour and Rockford. Some spots, like where the gang hid loot, are on private property. Travelers should always get permission before entering.
Public landmarks, such as historical markers, are easier to visit. Using a detailed map or GPS coordinates helps avoid getting lost in rural areas.
Packing essentials can make the trip smoother:
- Water and snacks for long walks
- Comfortable shoes for uneven terrain
- Weather-appropriate clothing
- First-aid kit for minor injuries
Travelers can also join guided history tours, which may share stories and safe access points connected to the Reno Gang. Shows like Expedition Unknown’s Reno Gang episode can help identify key locations before a trip.
Responsible Exploration and Preservation
The Reno Gang’s historic sites form a part of local and national history. Digging, removing artifacts, or damaging property destroys valuable evidence.
United States laws, such as the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, make it illegal to take certain historical items from public land. On private land, owners decide who can explore.
Visitors can document discoveries with photos, sketches, or notes instead of taking objects. This helps keep the site intact for future historians and travelers.
They should also follow Leave No Trace principles:
- Stay on existing paths.
- Carry out all trash.
- Avoid disturbing plants and wildlife.
