Rank: Captain
Unit: 2d Dragoons
Commissioned: United States Military Academy class of 1845 and appointed from Indiana.
Date of birth: 7 January 1824
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky
Married: Mary Louisa Power
Children: One daughter, who died in infancy.
Campaign: Plains Indian War (pre Civil War)
Died: 9 March 1859
Age at death: 35
Cause of death: Tuberculosis
Location of fatality: San Antonio, Texas
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Place of interment: Camp Floyd Cemetery in Fairfield, Utah
Click to open an external link to view Soldier’s grave site on the Find A Grave website.
Notes: 30th in his class of 40 graduated cadets. Bvt. Second Lieut., 1st Dragoons, July 1, 1845.
Served on frontier duty, on March from Ft. Washita, I. T., to Ft. Wayne, I. T., 1845‑46, — Ft. Smith, Ark., 1846, — and Ft. Gibson, I. T.,
Second Lieut., 2d Dragoons, May 9, 1846.
War with Mexico, 1846‑48, being engaged in the Battle of Buena Vista, February. 22‑23, 1847; on
Frontier duty on march to California, Bvt. First Lieut., February. 23, 1847, for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in the Battle of Buena Vista, Mex.) 1848‑49, — Los Angeles, Cal., 1849, — Ft. Croghan, Tex., 1850‑51, — Ft.
First Lieut., 2d Dragoons, July 25, 1850)
Graham, Tex., 1851‑52, 1852, — Ft. Croghan, Tex., 1852‑53, — March to Ft. Belknap, Tex., 1853‑54, — Corpus Christi, Tex., 1854, — and Ft. Belknap, Tex., 1854‑55.
Arrested, suspended, and sick, 1855‑57.
Captain, 2d Dragoons, February. 28, 1857.
Topographical duty in Texas, Oct. 12, 1857, to June 15, 1858; and on sick leave of absence, 1858‑59.
When the Army decided to close the despised Fort Phantom Hill in 1854, troopers from Givens’ command set fire to the buildings. Givens was court martialed twice for destruction of government property: the first time he was acquitted, and the second time suspended for 9 months.
He was an avid hunter.
His body was shipped to Utah where his regiment was stationed.