On the Trail of Benedict Arnold

In September 1775, Benedict Arnold let 1,100 men up Maine's Kennebec River in hastily built wooden bateaux. The 300-mile journey along Indian trade routes was intended to allow Arnold and his men to sneak up to the British held Quebec and rout them from the city. While the mission itself was a dismal failure, the 80-day trek by Arnold and his men is considered one of the greatest military expeditions of all time. Fast forward to the 21st century: Writer and adventurer W. Hodding Carter teamed with a small group of friends to retrace Arnold's route. They built a single bateau (to the exact specifications of those used by Arnold's men) and strove to make the same trip in the same number of days. What followed was an adventure by turns harrowing and hilarious, as the small band braved Maine weather and water to complete the trip. Carter recounts their journey, from the building of their bateaux to preparing and setting out, to the trials of dealing with white water, swamping, and portaging a nearly 500 pound craft. Woven throughout is the story of Arnold's expedition, culled from historical sources as well as numerous first-hand accounts in the form of letters home from Arnold's men. It's a unique and exhilarating look at a key moment in Maine history.

W. Hodding Carter is a contributing editor at Outside magazine. He has written five nonfiction books, including A Viking Voyage (2000) about his trip to retrace the journey of Leif Erikson. He lives in Camden, Maine.