Dissatisfied with my first modeling attempts, my first thought was to turn to Mrs. Child for help. I wrote to her, asking if I might call that weekend and she invited me to take the Saturday morning train to Watertown. Mrs. Child and I were soon ensconced in rocking chairs on her front porch, hoping to catch stray breezes while we sipped lemonade. I laid out my plan—to sculpt a bust of Colonel Shaw, to pay tribute him and the entire 54th Regiment.

            “I will need photographs of Colonel Shaw to render an accurate portrait bust,” I said. “I know that the Shaws are personal friends of yours. Would you be willing to ask if they might loan me any daguerreotypes of him?”&nb...

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