author
Will H. Thompson
Best remembered for his stirring Civil War poem "The High Tide at Gettysburg," this Indiana writer also made a name for himself in early American archery. His life blended literature, law, and sport in a way that feels distinctly 19th century.
1 Audiobook
Tigre and Isola
by Will H. Thompson
About the author
Born in 1848, Will H. Thompson—also known as Will Henry Thompson—was an American poet, lawyer, and archer. He lived in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and is most often associated with "The High Tide at Gettysburg," a widely anthologized poem that helped preserve his literary reputation.
Thompson was also deeply involved in archery during the sport’s early organized years in the United States. Alongside his brother Maurice Thompson, he wrote about archery and helped promote it to a broader audience; he is connected with The Witchery of Archery and other works on the subject.
That mix of poetry, public life, and athletic enthusiasm makes him an unusual and memorable figure. Though he is not widely read today, he remains of interest to readers drawn to 19th-century American verse and to the history of archery.