Elmira, N.Y., May 17th, 1861.
To the Ladies of Hamilton:
 Your gift was received yesterday, and received
with a good round of cheers, I assure you. Just
previous to their arrival, we received the kind
letter which you sent us, and I read it to the
company assembled around the stove in the
rough barracks, eager to hear anything from
those at home whose sympathy they are con-
fident of participating in.
 In three or four instances since we left Hamil-
ton, have we found it necessary to throw to the
breeze the beautiful banner which you presented
us, to keep the company together. Your letter,
followed so closely by four barrels full of solid
"sympathy," will do more to keep the peace
and preserve order for three or four days, than
so many barrels of "army regulations" would.
The butter and shirts were acceptable especially.
"The rations" do not include butter, and the
latter on account of the delay of the military
departments in getting our uniforms, were ab-
solutely indespensable. The cakes are con-
sidered to be luxuries which are not to be lightly
spoken of by anybody. But we value the moral
influence of your gift still more highly than its
tangible effects.
  Immediately after your letter was read and
duly "cheered and tigered" (by the way, the
cakes have since been "tigered," though they
were cheered on their arrival) I was deputized
to write a letter thanking the ladies of Hamilton,
on the part of the company. By this imperfect
note I have endeavored to comply with their re-
quest, at the same time feeling as I write, ex-
ceedingly thankful, for a certain large cake
which has been received, and solemnly disposed
of by the captain of the aforesaid company.
  Ladies of Hamilton, accept our thanks. You
will not be forgotten by us, and we hope still in
the future to occupy a niche in your memory.
		GEORGE ARROWSMITH
			In behalf of Company D.