Harbor Defenses of New Bedford
| Harbor Defenses of New Bedford | |
|---|---|
Fort Rodman
|
|
| Active | 1900-1950 |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch | United States Army Coast Artillery Corps |
| Type | Coast artillery |
| Role | Harbor Defense Command |
| Garrison/HQ |
|
| Mascot(s) | Oozlefinch |
The Harbor Defenses of New Bedford was a United States Army Coast Artillery Corps harbor defense command. It coordinated the coast defenses of New Bedford, Massachusetts and the nearby Cape Cod Canal from 1900 to 1950, beginning with the Endicott program. These included a coast artillery fort (Fort Rodman, a.k.a. Fort Taber) and an underwater minefield. The command originated circa 1900 as the New Bedford Artillery District, was renamed Coast Defenses of New Bedford in 1913, and again renamed Harbor Defenses of New Bedford in 1925.
Two forts were built in the New Bedford area in the American Revolution, a 6-gun (possibly 11-gun) unnamed fort (later named Fort Phoenix) in 1775 in what is now Fairhaven, and the 10-gun Acushnet Fort in 1776 at an uncertain location, possibly on Clark's Point at the site of the later Fort Rodman. The building of the first fort was sparked by the Battle off Fairhaven on 14 May 1775, said to be the first naval engagement of the Revolution. A group of about 30 patriots in the 40-ton sloop Success retrieved two vessels that had been captured by HMS Falcon, taking some British prisoners in the action. Another major action in the Revolution was Grey's raid on 5-6 September 1778, in which the Fairhaven fort was destroyed. A force under Major Israel Fearing drove off the British, both at the fort and when they attempted an attack on the town the next day. The fort was then renamed Fort Fearing.
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