Near Petersburg in Prince George County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Monotonous Toil
Petersburg National Battlefield
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007
1. Monotonous Toil Marker
The romance of a soldiers life disappears in a siege. The change of scenery and the lively marches are gone, and the same monotonous unvaried rounds of toil take their place. Sunday and weekday are all alike.
T.M. Blythe 50th N.Y. Engineers
This quiet wood was once a busy encampment. Here, during the winter of 1864-65, Union soldiers fought not Confederates, but boredom and toil. They drilled, they primped their huts, they read mail and newspapers, they played, and they waited for their turn in the trenches (a dangerous assignment) or the call to battle.
That call to battle came only three times to the Pennsylvanians camped near here. On one of these the morning of March 25, 1865 they rushed from these camps to resist the Confederate breakthrough at Fort Stedman, one mile to the west (to your left).
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is March 25, 1846.
Location. 37° 13.954′ N, 77° 21.27′ W. Marker is near Petersburg, Virginia, in Prince George County. It is on Siege Road, on the left when traveling south. Marker is in Petersburg National Battlefield. It is located
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Coastal Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Infantry Earthworks (a few steps from this marker); U.S. Colored Troops (a few steps from this marker); A Splendid Charge (a few steps from this marker); Battery 8 of the Dimmock Line (approx. 0.3 miles away); The United States Military Railroad (approx. 0.4 miles away); Spring Used By The 209th Regt. Penn Vols. (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dividing Point (approx. half a mile away); Training for War on Hallowed Ground (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.
Other markers no longer nearby. Prince George Court House Road (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Infantry Earthworks (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. The background of the marker is a winter encampment of the Union IX Corps.
Also see . . .
1. Petersburg National Battlefield. National Park Service. (Submitted on April 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007
2. Battery 9 Markers
There are severals markers at Tour Stop 3 in Petersburg National Battlefield.
2. The Siege of Petersburg. (Submitted on April 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007
3. Soldier Hut
Union IX Corps spent the winter of 1864-65 at this location. This hut, similar to those used during the winter encampment, is located near the marker.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007
4. Interior of Soldier Hut
Soldiers of the Union IX Corps spent the winter in huts like this one.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007
5. Encampment Fortifications
The area near the marker has several examples of fortifications and camp life.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,321 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on February 1, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
