Volunteers commemorate Benedict Arnold’s historic march to Quebec [Video]

Compared to the Navy warships built here every day and the replica of a 1609 sailing vessel built on this same spot just three years ago, the 19-foot-long batteau is as basic as a boat can be. A series of wooden frames, connected by pine boards, sawn to shape, pointed at each end. 

But in 1775, more than 200 batteau just like it were built on this same river, to carry soldiers from the colonial army to fight the British and conquer Quebec.

They were led by one of the colonies’ best fighting leaders, Colonel and later Major General Benedict Arnold.

“Benedict Arnold is synonymous with traitor,” Mike Holt, a volunteer with the Arnold Expedition Historical Society, said. “But as Duluth Wing [a former member] used to …