N. E. Prentice's diary covers approximately seventy pages and dates from January through July of 1865. In the early portion of the diary, Prentice writes about his duties as a soldier and typical life in his unit. He also includes descriptions of foraging his unit has done, lists of materials taken, names of civilians from whom they took materials, and in some instances explanations of why they targeted particular civilians. Finally, Prentice makes note of letters from home, deserters, Union prisoners, and African-American refugees.

The entries written after the Confederate surrender are more detailed than the previous ones. The bulk of these entries describe Prentice's discharge from the military. Although he initially resigned his commission, he later withdrew that resignation in order to muster out with his unit. Prentice also mentions the election of delegates to the Ohio Union State Convention and writes a few entries concerning his work in growing and selling grapes after his return home.

The diary also includes approximately seventeen pages of autographs from fellow soldiers, an account of living expenses during Prentice's final months in service, and a simple chart of battalion formations. The final page contains a list of camp and garrison equippage lost in storage and a record of personal debts. The flyleaf and endpaper house various lists, calculations, monetary amounts, names, and addresses.