This collection consists of two diaries written by Dr. John Willard Hill when he was twelve years old and living in Knoxville, Tennessee. The contents span two calendar years, beginning on January 1, 1865 and ending on in December 31, 1866 with a gap between July 9 and December 31, 1865. Many of the entries address Hill's daily school lessons, visits from tutors and family friends, as well as domestic affairs like cleaning the horses and his mother’s new shoes. A number of his entries include brief phrases in German. Others include cursory details about the Civil War such as visits to battlefields.