William Peel was a member of Company G, 11th Mississippi Infantry, and according to his Confederate Service Record, he was a farmer near Okolona. Peel enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861 and served continuously until his death on February 17, 1865. He was at Gettysburg in July 1863 where he was captured and taken to Johnson's Island, Sandusky, Ohio, where he remained prisoner until his death. He was buried on Johnson's Island.

This collection consists of a diary that covers the activities of William Peel from June 25, 1863, through February 2, 1865. The diary might have been started after his capture at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863, although the entries began June 25 after an undated account of activities happening in early June. The diary covers in detail activities and descriptions of troop movements, camp life and the skirmishes leading to Gettysburg where Peel was captured. The bulk of the diary describes daily life at Johnson's Island Prison in Sandusky, Ohio. The entries reflect all aspects of life as a prisoner of war including diet, recreation, attitudes toward the war, escape attempts and news from home. The diary is exceptionally well written and quite descriptive providing much information regarding Johnson's Island. The frontispiece was inscribed by a friend of Peel who noted he died on February 17 after contracting pneumonia on February 8.

Series: Diary. 1863–1865. 1 item.