My Great Grandmother Mary (Irsch) Fleckenstein was Francis Irsch's niece. She preserved the following article printed about her uncle-
MILITARY ORDER OF THE LOYAL LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES
Circular #41
Series of 1906
Whole#895
New York October 1, 1906
At a stated meeting of this Commandery, held at Delmonico’s, corner of Fifth Ave. and Forty-fourth street, the following was adopted as a report to the committee appointed to draft resolutions relative to Companion Captain Francis Irsch, 45th. New York Infantry (Insignia No. 7988), who died at Tampa, Fla., August 19, 1906 aged 63 years.
REPORT
Captain Frank Irsch was born at Saarburg, Germany, December 4th. 1840, and died at Tampa, Florida, August 19, 1906, at the age of 63 years. He came to this country while still a small boy.
He assisted in organizing the 45th. New York Volunteer Infantry (Fifth German Rifles), for three years’ service and on September 2, 1861, was elected First Lieutenant of Company “Dâ€. In consequence of an error of the Governor in having already appointed a Lieutenant for that Company, Captain Irsch served as Supernumerary in other Companies until formally commissioned First Lieutenant of Company “Aâ€, and mustered, April 5th. , 1862, to date from January 8th of that year. He served under General Fremont in West Virginia and in the Shenandoah Campaigns against Jackson, which culminated in the battle of Cross Keys. He continued under General Pope in his disastrous Virginia Campaign participating in nearly all of the engagements including the Second Manassas, in which he was wounded. His regiment was then transferred to Sigel’s command and subsequently joined the Army of the Potomac at Acquila Creek. After a brief absence on Draft duty in New York City, he was made Captain of Company “Dâ€, on February 11, 1863, and rejoined his Regiment, remaining with it through the battles of Chancellorville and Gettysburg until July 1st. when, with what remained of his company after the first days fight at Gettysburg, he was captured and made prisoner. He commanded the right company of the skirmish line, which led the advance of the Eleventh Corps. At Gettysburg.
Refusing a parole from the enemy, he was taken to Libby Prison, from which he escaped through the famous tunnel, February 8, 1864, but was recaptured near Williamsburg, Va. And confined in a subterranean cell for three weeks. Thence he was taken to Macon, Georgia; from there to Savannah; thence to Charleston, where with 300 officers he was subjected to the fire of our own guns; thence to Columbia, S.C., until finally exchanged at Wilmington, N.C., in March, 1864. Four attempts to escape from prison pens or en route were frustrated by the bloodhounds put upon his track. After a 30 days leave of absence he reported for duty, but the war being practically over, Captain Irsch was mustered out May 17, 1865. For conspicuous gallantry at Gettysburg he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. For ten years or more he has been Secretary of the Eleventh Corps. In the Society of the Army of the Potomac. He is survived by his widow and two sons, Frank E. and Edward F., and three daughters, Catherine, Mrs., Mary Jenkins and Mrs. Louise McCable.
Captain Irsch continued in active business in New York until within a few months of his decease.
Resolved, That this Commandery places on record it’s warm appreciation of Captain Irsch’s high services as a soldier and his genial qualities as a gentleman, and deeply regrets his decease.
Resolved, That the Commandery extends to the bereaved widow and children it’s sincere sympathy.
Resolved, That this report be preserved in the minutes and published in the usual manner.
Horatio C. King
Brevet colonel, U.S.V.
Gustave Korn
Major, U.S.V.
By order of Brevet Brigadier-General Thomas H. Hubbard, U.S. Volunteers, Commander
(This report was preserved and handed down by Captain Irsch’s niece, Mary (Irsch) Fleckenstein.