Near Fort Lee in Prince George County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Monotonous Toil

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

1. Monotonous Toil Marker

Inscription. “The romance of a soldier’s 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 Petersburg National Battlefield - National Park Service - Dept. 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 Fort Lee, Virginia, in Prince George County. Marker is on Siege Road, on the left when traveling south. Marker is in Petersburg National Battlefield. It is located

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at Tour Stop 3. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Lee VA 23801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 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); Dividing Point (approx. half a mile away); Site of U.S. Military Railroad (approx. half a mile away); Fort Gregg-Adams' Oldest Building (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Lee.

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.)

2. The Siege of Petersburg. (Submitted on April 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Battery 9 Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2007

2. Battery 9 Markers

There are severals markers at Tour Stop 3 in Petersburg National Battlefield.

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.

Interior of Soldier Hut image. Click for full size.

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.

Encampment Fortifications image. Click for full size.

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 August 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,120 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 13, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.