William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting (24 July 1815-16 July 1863) was an American crime boss who was the leader of the Natives gang of the Five Points of Manhattan, New York City during the mid-19th century. Cutting was involved in New York politics as a partner of Tammany Hall boss William M. Tweed; he himself was a leader of the Know Nothing party before becoming a prominent Copperhead during the American Civil War. Cutting held sway over the Five Points after the Battle of the Five Points in 1846, but his reign was ended with his death in battle with the Irish Dead Rabbits gang on 16 July 1863 amid the New York draft riots.
Biography[]
Rise to power[]
Cutting in 1846
William Cutting was born in 1815 to a family of Protestant English-Americans in New York City, New York, United States. His father was killed on 25 July 1814 fighting against the British Army during the War of 1812, giving Cutting patriotic views as he grew up without a father. Cutting grew up in a poor environment, and he became the owner of a butcher shop in the Five Points of Manhattan that his father once owned. Cutting resorted to crime in order to make money, and he became the leader of a gang of nativists in the Five Points, the Natives. During the 1840s, his gang competed with the Irish Catholic "Dead Rabbits" gang of Priest Vallon, his respected rival, and he became known as "Bill the Butcher" for both his former profession in addition to his use of a butcher knife in combat and his fighting skills. On 6 February 1846, Cutting killed Vallon in the final battle for control of the Five Points, and he outlawed the Dead Rabbits; members like Happy Jack Mulraney and Gary McGloin joined his gang raher than find other lines of work. Cutting became a very powerful gangster, and he had connections to "Boss" William M. Tweed and Tammany Hall, who decided to grant political favors to the Natives in exchange for providing muscle, especially he sent his own Fire Engine Company No. 34 (Red Rover) against Peter Masterson's rival Engine No. 33 ("the Black Joke") fire company and for rigging elections. Cutting held annual celebrations on the anniversary of his victory over Vallon, the last opponent that he respected. It was at one of those events that Vallon's son Amsterdam Vallon planned to kill him after re-forming the Dead Rabbits.
American Civil War[]
Cutting in 1862
Cutting unknowingly took Vallon under his wing in 1862, as he knew him only as an associate of his employee Johnny Sirocco. Cutting became friends with him and came to believe that he was the "son he never had", and he used him to help him with business. Meanwhile, Cutting worked with Boss Tweed, giving him muscle for his political machine and letting him remain in power. Cutting was also active in protests against the freeing of African-Americans from slavery and from the draft, taking part in protests and the beating of African-Americans at the celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation's ratification. Cutting was very much known for his pro-Confederate States of America "Copperhead" views, his hatred of Abraham Lincoln, and his racism against African-Americans. He was friends with Amsterdam Vallon until he found out that he was Priest's son from Johnny, who was jealous of his love with Cutting's ward Jenny Everdeane. At a celebration of the anniversary of the Battle of the Five Points at a Chinese theater, Cutting performed knife tricks at Jenny Everdeane to lure Amsterdam out, knowing that he would try to kill him. Amsterdam tried to throw a knife at Cutting as he was drinking after a toast to Priest Vallon, but Vallon deflected it and stabbed Amsterdam in the chest before leaving a scar on his face. For months, Amsterdam was in exile, but Walter McGinn inspired Amsterdam to re-form the Dead Rabbits and fight against Cutting. When Happy Jack Mulraney was killed and news spread about the comeback of the Dead Rabbits, Cutting had Johnny Sirocco impaled on a pike and personally killed McGinn shortly after he was elected as sheriff. After the funeral, Cutting and Vallon agreed to a gang battle to end the feud.
Downfall[]
Cutting's death
In July 1863, Vallon was able to gain his chance for revenge during the New York draft riots, when the fight was planned to take place. He led attacks against upper-class citizens and African-Americans, leading to many lynchings and the ransacking of mansions. Cutting and his gang fought Vallon and his gang in the square as dust and smoke filled the square, with the US Navy shelling rioters. The two gangs met in battle, and Cutting nearly killed Vallon. However, a cannon blast knocked the two of them down, and Cutting was killed by shrapnel that hit him in the chest. His last words were, "Thank God, I die a true American", and he was stabbed to death by Vallon as he lay on the ground. He was buried in Brooklyn next to Vallon, but their graves were eventually overgrown, and they were no longer remembered by future generations.
Gallery[]
