Covering Board and Batten with new siding?

[jbellhanson]

An addition to our house was sided in the 50s with board and batten, which is still sound. But we'd like to change the look by replacing the vertical siding with stained ship lap or cedar applied horizontally. Could one use the existing battens as furring strips for the new siding? How would one make sure they are solidly anchored? Would a layer of house wrap go under the new siding and over the old?

 

[Sparky617]

I would probably remove the battens and attach it to the boards.