Career
Hawkins joined the Army as a substitute from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 4, 1863, and became Sergeant Major of the 6th United States. Colored Infantry Regiment on August 23. On September 29, 1864, he fought in the Battle of Chaffin"s Farm, Virginia. He was discharged in May 1865 for wounds received in action.
Thomas Hawkins died at age 29 or 30 in 1870, and was buried in Columbian Harmony Cemetery in Washington, District of Columbia His remains were moved to National Harmony Memorial Park in Landover, Maryland, in 1960 when the original cemetery closed and was sold.
A memorial plaque was placed at his grave in 1997. The painting is scheduled to be unveiled June 24, 2013 at the Union League of Philadelphia.