LETTER DATED MARCH 12, 1848, FROM JOHN H. STARR OF MOSSY CREEK, GA   TO HILLIARD DORSEY WHO WAS AWAY FROM HOME & FIGHTING IN THE WAR WITH MEXICO.  HILLIARD WAS A BROTHER TO MY GR GR GRANDMOTHER, MARY SALENA (DORSEY) JARRARD & THE SON OF ANDREW DORSEY & NANCY (SMITH) DORSEY OF MOSSY CREEK.    I have typed it as written, complete with spelling errors, etc.
                                                Submitted by Diane Ethridge

 
Dear Hilliard:
 
Your letter of 13th Feb was duly received & quite glad we were to hear from you & that you were well placed & pleasantly situated.  Was somewhat surprised that you should complain of me as I had written you last - while you were at New Orleans - (suppose you did not get it) and now I have commenced writing I fear I shall not  interest you, but as I suppose all most any thing from your old home would be welcome & kindly received by one who was so far away from home - though you were not amongst parents, brothers & sisters & old friends.  May you be successful & come home with more than honor.  I have no doubt but I would be delighted with the senery (sp) & more especially with the fine fruits of Mexico - but as you know I am one of the lovers of home and no place, no name is so sweet to me as home. 
 
Since you left there has many things happened this county.  Some things pleasant, others grievous.  Some have married, some died, some moved off & some came in.  So the world goes.  You would be astonished to see how they were boys & girls when you left & now have grown up. 
 
I was not surprised  at the conduct of the Mexican parents after the death of their children.  I can only believe that they take comfort  that their little children will be ushered into Heaven while their poor parents will yet have longer to stay here on this poor earth.
 
You will please accept my acknowledgements for the Mexican coin you sent it was quite a curiosity to us. 
 
Your friends & relatives here are generally well.  I saw your father & brothers at the old Mossy Creek Church today.  Old father --anwick has been quite sick but is better.  Robert Anderson died some 2 weeks since.
 
Please accept the greatest of compliments from Maj. Trammel (?) & family & our family & believe me as ever your friend & well wisher,
 
                                                                                    John H. Starr