Tom Chaffin is a professor of history and the director/editor of the James K. Polk Correspondence Project at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His books include "Sea of Gray, Pathfinder, "and "The H.L.Hunley", all published by Hill and Wang. His work has appeared in "The New York Times", "Harper's Magazine", "Time", and other publications. He lives in Knoxville.