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John J. Given
Cenotaph

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John J. Given Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Pennsylvania, USA
Death
12 Jul 1870 (aged 29–30)
Jack County, Texas, USA
Cenotaph
San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA GPS-Latitude: 29.4212907, Longitude: -98.4669808
Plot
Section MA, Site 88
Memorial ID
View Source
Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army during the Wars with the Plains Indians as a Corporal in Company K, 6th United States Cavalry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in action on July 12, 1870 at the Battle of the Little Wichita River, Texas, with his citation for the award reading simply "Bravery in action." In the action he was part of a force of 57 men from the 6th Cavalry that went in pursuit of 250-strong group of Kiowa Indians led by Chief Kicking Bird. After tracking the Kiowas for five days, the cavalry force met them on the Wichita River in Archer County, Texas. After a short initial fight, the cavalrymen found that they were outnumbered and outgunned, and fought a fierce defensive battle that left 3 United States soldiers and fifteen Kiowas dead. Corporal Given was one of the cavalry dead, supposedly killed by a lance by Kicking Bird himself. After the Kiowas broke off the engagement in the early evening, the soldiers retreated, eventually making it back to their home base of Fort Richardson near Jacksboro, Texas. Corporal Given was left on the field, and his final resting place is unknown. Thirteen troopers were awarded the CMOH on August 25, 1870, for their performance and bravery during the battle, Corporal Given being one of them, having been awarded it posthumously.
Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army during the Wars with the Plains Indians as a Corporal in Company K, 6th United States Cavalry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in action on July 12, 1870 at the Battle of the Little Wichita River, Texas, with his citation for the award reading simply "Bravery in action." In the action he was part of a force of 57 men from the 6th Cavalry that went in pursuit of 250-strong group of Kiowa Indians led by Chief Kicking Bird. After tracking the Kiowas for five days, the cavalry force met them on the Wichita River in Archer County, Texas. After a short initial fight, the cavalrymen found that they were outnumbered and outgunned, and fought a fierce defensive battle that left 3 United States soldiers and fifteen Kiowas dead. Corporal Given was one of the cavalry dead, supposedly killed by a lance by Kicking Bird himself. After the Kiowas broke off the engagement in the early evening, the soldiers retreated, eventually making it back to their home base of Fort Richardson near Jacksboro, Texas. Corporal Given was left on the field, and his final resting place is unknown. Thirteen troopers were awarded the CMOH on August 25, 1870, for their performance and bravery during the battle, Corporal Given being one of them, having been awarded it posthumously.

Bio by: RPD2



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Oct 26, 2000
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18176/john_j-given: accessed ), memorial page for John J. Given (1840–12 Jul 1870), Find a Grave Memorial ID 18176, citing San Antonio National Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.