FAIRFIELD, Maine — Historians working to preserve the legacy of a daring Revolutionary War journey through Maine woods and waters are building five replica 18th century boats to mark the 250th anniversary.
The Arnold Expedition Historical Society is dedicated to highlighting the mission to send an army to Quebec in 1775 led by Benedict Arnold. Although Arnold is best known for later betraying the country, historians say it’s important to remember the soldiers who joined the fledgling army to try to protect the colonies from the British.
“There were 1,100 men who were on the march with him and they deserve to be recognized,” said Mike Holt, the society’s secretary. “They were true patriots and joined the Revolutionary War effort in the army just months after it was formed.”
Holt said the men left their farms and work in the woods with no support and no uniforms. The idea was to join up with other forces already near Quebec to take the city and stop the British so they could not advance on the colonies.
“There were a lot of men there besides Benedict Arnold, and it’s too bad they get the bad rap that he brought on himself,” Holt said.
Holt is in the process of putting the finishing touches on one of the five replicas, part of the activities to mark the anniversary. Right now, it’s sitting on a boat trailer in Fairfield as he seals the seams from the inside to make it watertight.
The flat-bottomed river boats — known as bateaux — were a critical part of the mission with the men needing to travel up the Kennebec River and the Chaudiere River to Quebec.
After Gen. George Washington chose Arnold to lead the expedition, Arnold directed Maine boat builder Reuben Colburn to build 200 of the boats for the expedition.
The 22-foot-long boats are designed to carry six or seven men with their provisions. When Arnold saw them, he said they were smaller than expected and asked Colburn to build 20 more, according to the historical society.
On Sept. 25, 1775, the expedition headed out from Fort Western in Augusta, but the boats started leaking. The 420-pound boats often had to be carried around impassable parts of the river, Holt said.
“Four to six men would pick this up and carry it whenever they had to do a portage around any of the waterfalls or across the Great Carrying Place portage from the Kennebec to the Dead,” he said.
By the time they made it to Quebec in November, the expedition had only about 600 men and they had traveled 350 miles, not the 180 Arnold and Washington had predicted, according to a 1903 book based on Arnold’s diaries.
Although the expedition failed to take Quebec, Holt said the effort at least stalled British advancement.
“It’s a very, very important part of the Revolutionary War,” he said.
To commemorate the effort, the historical society is inviting the public to join them Aug. 16 on a hike to retrace some of the steps taken by the expedition. Similar hikes are planned for September and October. For more information, check the Arnold Expedition Historical Society Facebook page.
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