First Soldier's Letter: 'Trip of the Normal Rifles to Pittsburg'

Passenger train at depot, Hanover Junction, 1863 (Source)

I'll have more about the author of this letter, Corp. Elias H. Witmer of Company E, in a future post, but for now enjoy the first of a long series of letters published in the Daily Evening Express documenting events and emotions in the life of the Lancaster County Regiment.  A couple other notes:

• Election returns and details were reported in the newspaper.  Perhaps I'll post on that over the next couple days...
• See the Wikipedia pages on the Gallitzin Tunnels and the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

This letter appeared in the October 11, 1861, Express only one day after it was penned: (alternate link)

"Allegheny Tunnel" Stereoview by Purviance, W. T. (William T.) via Wikimedia Commons