By Ethan Rankowitz At the intersection of Davenport and Columbus Avenues three soldiers stand, commemorated in bronze, with their tricorn hats askew, positioned ready to defend their city from those who would try to take it. These men stand around a cannon aimed down Columbus Ave. across the West Bridge, towards where a unit of the attacking British soldiers were advancing on the town of New Haven in July 1779. Although, New Haven was eventually taken from the east, the defense of the West Bridge was a success and the defenders were able to keep the British at bay. As the City Beautiful movement took hold of New Haven in the early twentieth century, its people elected to commission and erect a statue that would commemorate the farmers, students, and merchants who fought in its defense.   The statue itself was erected in 1910 and was created by James. E Kelly, a prominent sculptor responsible for the Monmouth Battle monument in New Jersey as well as the statue of George Washington a...