Andrew Given was born on February 13, 1835 in Ireland to James Given and Jane Dugan. He married Eliza Forsythe Given before the Civil War. They had two children, James and Jane, before the Civil War. Before the war, Given worked as a weaver and a shipper of dry goods.

Given mustered into the Union Army on May 25, 1861 for three years service, but he deserted his regiment on September 7, 1862 at Washington, D.C. He served in Company C of the Third New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. On September 20, 1864, Given mustered in as a recruit Private in Company L of the First New York Veteran Cavalry under the alias of Andrew Dugan. He mustered out on July 20, 1865 at Camp Piatt, WV. Following the war, Given worked as a carpet weaver. He died on March 13, 1913 of senile disability in Philadelphia, PA.

There are a few different variations in the spelling of Given used by Andrew including "Givens" and "Givin." His letters, although signed in his name, are written in a variety of hands. This may account for his name being misspelled. One particular letter, likely a fragment, is even written in a very literary style quite different from his usual tone. Perhaps Given had others in camp help him write his letters.