I just watched this again. Though Hollywood's known for taking liberties with history I was surprised that they tried to curb themselves on this one. The time stretch flounders between pre to post Civil War, aw, it's only a few years. Like Dan (hi Dan) I also find this time & place interesting even if I don't live in either & BTW it's only a movie not a doc. The fight did occur, the date was July 4, 1857 (though in song there's a mention of 8/4) & it was between the Dead Rabbits & the Bowery Boys & their rivalry out shown all of the other gang rivalries. As in the movie the 2 gangs were joined by others including the Plug Uglies, Roach Guards, the Hudson Dusters, the Potashes, the Gophers & 2 pirate gangs, the Daybreak Boys who operated on the East River piers & the Charlton Street Boys who operated their own sloop from the Hudson docks up to Poughkeepsie & actually flying the Jolly Roger. The Indian figure seen in a shot of what is supposed to be the inside of Tammany Hall dates back to Tammany Hall's roots as a benefactor to Native Americans. The Great Police Fight (or the city hall riot) had just occurred on June 17 1857 between the Municipal police (it's said they may have sided with the Bowery Boys) & the Metropolitan police departments which is why the movie would be showing the Militia being called in to put down the gang war which again is truth, the fighting lasted 2 days. The song "By the Hush wouldn't've been heard at this point in time (note the dates of the fight to the Civil War). Though the sea shanty "New York Girls" was timely enough, the singing of the chorus "can't ya dance the polka" was more popular in the 1860's due to the new dance the Polka which was sweeping the US & Europe at this time, where the chorus "ya love us for our money" would've been the older, more popular up well until the 40's. Boss Tweed was one of the more powerful bosses at Tammany Hall mainly by getting the Irish vote & everyone worked with the gangs. I guess what you have to do to make a movie & what yo have to do to sell the movie, I don't think it was all that shabby.

Barry