THE BATEAU

The bateau was a unique and distinctive feature of north woods river driving, that is getting logs downstream from the woods to mills, railroads, and communities for use. Dating at least from the French and Indian wars, bateaux possibly evolved from French fishing dories, providing a solution to the problems not only of clearing log jams but of transporting many men and supplies down and up swift, sometimes hazardous rivers. Of simple construction, these boats could be assembled and repaired easily in the deep woods, though most were made in thriving communities such as Old Town. The flat bottom and flared sides of the bateau (sometimes spelled batteau) offered remarkable stability in rough water, while the long, narrow bow and stern gave them the maneuverability necessary in Maine's rocky and twisting rivers. Adopted throughout New England and used for more than two centuries in Maine, the bateau's design was even carried West to the Lake States and to the Pacific Northwest logging districts, where they can sometimes still be seen at work.

Maine's most famous bateau traveler? Why, Benedict Arnold, of course! Arnold’s 1775 expedition up the Kennebec and Dead Rivers to attack Quebec was ill-fated for a number of reasons, including the ‘villanous’ construction of the bateaus--they were so poorly made that men and supplies often got wet, contributing to illness and exhaustion.