Thomas L. Hatton was born around 1831 in Pennsylvania to John and Mary Hatton. He married Catharine Arick on May 7, 1854, and they had at least four children: Albert, born around 1854; Hugh, born on July 13, 1857; John, born on September 8, 1859; and Thomas, born on October 26, 1861. Their son Albert died in a railroad accident on January 14, 1863. They lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and he earned a living as a salesman.
In November 1860, he observed that “Some of the Southern States [are] making a terrible noise about secession. How it will all end, it is hard to tell yet. But one thing is certain, we are going to have a very hard time of it this winter, on account of so many people being thrown out of work, occasioned by this excitement in the South.”
He enlisted in the Union army on July 23, 1861, and he mustered in as a sergeant in Company D of the 82nd Pennsylvania Infantry on August 16. He expressed devotion to the Union, writing that “the Stars & Stripes are the only legitimate colours.” At the same time, however, he acknowledged his own financial motivations: “unless a man enlists he stands a good chance of starving.” The regiment took part in the Peninsula campaign and the Seven Days Battles. He was wounded at Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862. As a comrade explained, “he was struck in the back by a peace off shell while gallantley fighting att the head off his regiment.” He died in Washington, D.C., on July 4, 1862.