“THE GANGS OF NEW YORK”
A Casual “Review” by Vic Olney
The biggest questions I have directed to us these days are
(1) did I see the movie and (2) what did I think of it. I have about 2 dozen e-mails on this and I
am sure will be receiving / sending more in the near future.
Set - Great. Actors - Wonderful. Costuming - Exotic. Music - Not Bad. Historical Content - Give me a break!
This is not even close enough to history to even
start responding. Barbara and I saw the picture together and after it was over
she said “well, I guess they are going to receive a 9 page letter from you!”
Not really - 9 pages would not cover their historical trespasses - and I am not
an historian!
The Draft Riots of 1863 has always been one of my
favorite subjects ever since I read a book in 1957 titled “July, 1863” by God
knows who. I have looked for it in
Strands and elsewhere for decades to no avail. I would love it if someone has an extra copy lying around - or direct me
to where I might obtain same.
A little background; I was raised on 26th Street
and 3rd Avenue; my mother was raised on 26th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue,
my Grandmother was raised on 28th Street and 8th Avenue, my Grandfather was
born (1883-4?) on 26th and 8th, his mother and father owned a saloon in that
area and he and his brothers were the terrors of the neighborhood. His best
pals were Oanie, Madden and Legs Diamond and he did spend a few nights in The Tombs as a guest of the City. My grand-uncle, George Gruinwald, was in the 69th in the ‘30’s and was dishonorably discharged for decking some Officer who wanted him to take an Oath of Allegiance because he had German Heritage (1938ish). My mother said he drank himself to death as the 69th was all he had, died on the
Bowery and was buried in Potter’s Field. Or so the story goes.
So July 1863 was on “my turf”.
I am glad I got away from that neighborhood - I
now live “far away” at 16th and 1st, my “local” - The Abbey Tavern - is at 26th
and 3rd and I can usually be found at the 69th Regiment Armory at 26th Street
and Lexington Avenue. I guess I cannot
be characterized as “upwardly mobile”.
Napoleon said it best - “History is a tale agreed
upon”.
The real action during July 1863 took place at 21
Street and 2nd Avenue - site of the NY State Armory which housed a stand of 500
rifles – the Veteran Volunteers fired cannon from 22nd Street south and blasted
the rioters away - they also invaded Brooks Brothers and Wanamaker’s at Astor
Place and torched them to the earth - 1 block from the HQ of the non combative,
overrated and underutilized 7th Regiment (that’s another tale). Other points in the conflagration were the
“Colored Orphanage” on West 28th and the Draft HQ - commanded by the 69th’s
Robert Nugent - as well as 28th and Broadway where the Draftees learned of
their fate.
The 69th Armory was then at Essex and Grand Street
- not far from the infamous Five Points - but the Regiment was still recovering
from Gettysburg less than 2 weeks prior although I recall reading somewhere
that part of the 69th was returned to New York and bivouacked in Madison Square
Park - 26th Street and 5th Avenue; I would suppose that was the 69th of
Corcoran’s Irish Legion and not the 69th of Meagher’s Irish Brigade. They went into Gettysburg with only 69 men
and 7 Officers and suffered 1/3 casualties so I don’t think 40 men would be a
lot of assistance.
If you are a “stitch counter” - a reenactor or
“historian” who lives for minutia - or one who wishes to savor authentic
history the “Gangs Of New York” is not for you. If your team is not in the Playoffs and it is raining then it
pretty good Hollywood for a dreary day. Don’t bring the kids - this is Hollywood - and there are some scenes
that are “racy” interjected to sell the flick.
After the theatre emptied we were the only ones
waiting for the plethora of credits but they went by so fast for these old eyes
to grasp. One of Dave Kincaid’s songs
was heard but I did not see the acknowledgement but I did see and shouted
“Heresy!” at the tune they played at the Nativists’ Ball (anti-Irish,
anti-Catholic, anti- Immigrant).
It was credited as “Garry Owen’s March”!
Need I say any more?
Submitted by: Victor J Olney
Staff Sergeant - The Fighting 69th
www.Fighting69th.com
69th Regiment Armory
68 Lexington Avenue, New York NY 10010
Published by: Capital Celtic Network
Year Written: 2003
