BETHEL – Benedict Arnold’s march through Maine in 1775 was the featured topic at the first lecture of the Bethel Historical Society’s 2008 series, “Maine History: Varied and Vivid,” sponsored in part by a grant from the Maine Humanities Council.

The lecture was presented at the society’s Regional History Center in the Dr. Moses Mason House Meeting Room on May 8 by Thomas A Desjardin, historic site specialist for the state.

He holds a PhD in history from the University of Maine and is the author of “Through a Howling Wilderness: Benedict Arnold’s March to Quebec,” “Stand Firm, Ye Boys from the Maine: The 20th Maine and the Gettysburg Campaign” and “Those Honored Dead: How the Story of Gettysburg Shaped American Memory.”

After detailing the hardships borne by the 1,100 troops who began the trek to Quebec in the fall of 1775 and all the mistakes and miscalculations that accompanied it, Desjardin concluded that the victory at Saratoga was made possible despite the failure of the colonials to take Quebec by their stubborn resistance to British counterattacks all the way to Valcour Island.

Had not Arnold and General Montgomery not threatened Quebec so seriously the first year of the conflict, the British forces that the crown diverted to Quebec in response, might instead have reinforced his majesty’s armies at Boston or New York, making it less likely that Washington’s army could have eventually succeeded. French recognition of and support for the colonies came after Saratoga and without that, the eventual victory at Yorktown in 1781 would not have been possible.

More information about the society and its activities may be obtained by calling 824-2908 or 800-824-2910.