▁Fort ▁Phoenix ▁( now ▁the ▁Fort ▁Phoenix ▁State ▁Res ervation ) ▁is ▁located ▁in ▁Fair h aven ▁at ▁the ▁mouth ▁of ▁the ▁Ac ush net ▁River , ▁and ▁it ▁served , ▁during ▁colonial ▁and ▁revolution ary ▁times , ▁as ▁the ▁primary ▁defense ▁against ▁se abor ne ▁attacks ▁on ▁New ▁Bed ford ▁har bor . ▁ ▁Within ▁sight ▁of ▁the ▁fort , ▁the ▁first ▁naval ▁battle ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁Revolution ▁took ▁place ▁on ▁May ▁ 1 4 , ▁ 1 7 7 5 . ▁Under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁Nathan iel ▁Pope ▁and ▁Daniel ▁Eg ery , ▁a ▁group ▁of ▁ 2 5 ▁Fair h aven ▁min ut emen ▁( including ▁No ah ▁St odd ard ) ▁ab o ard ▁the ▁s loop ▁Success ▁retrieved ▁two ▁vessels ▁previously ▁captured ▁by ▁a ▁British ▁war ship ▁in ▁B uzz ards ▁Bay . ▁ ▁On ▁September ▁ 5 ▁and ▁ 6 , ▁ 1 7 7 8 , ▁the ▁British ▁land ed ▁four ▁thousand ▁soldiers ▁on ▁the ▁west ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁Ac ush net ▁River . ▁They ▁burn ed ▁ships ▁and ▁w are h ouses ▁in ▁New ▁Bed ford , ▁sk irm ished ▁at ▁the ▁Head - of - the - R iver ▁bridge ▁( appro xim ately ▁where ▁the ▁Main ▁Street ▁bridge ▁in ▁Ac ush net ▁is ▁presently ▁situated ), ▁and ▁march ed ▁through ▁Fair h aven ▁to ▁S cont icut ▁Ne ck , ▁burning ▁homes ▁along ▁the ▁way . ▁In ▁de ference ▁to ▁the ▁over wh el ming ▁force ▁approaching ▁from ▁the ▁land ward ▁side ,