Editing History of Missouri (section)

===Welfare===
The [[Western Sanitary Commission]] was a private agency based in St. Louis that was a rival of the larger [[U.S. Sanitary Commission]]. It operated during the war to help the U.S. Army deal with sick and wounded soldiers. It was led by abolitionists and especially after the war focused more on the needs of Freedmen. It was founded in August 1861, under the leadership of Reverend [[William Greenleaf Eliot]] (1811–87), a Yankee, to care for the wounded soldiers after the opening battles. It was supported by private fundraising in the city of St. Louis, as well as from donors in California and New England. Parrish explains it selected nurses, provided hospital supplies, set up several hospitals, and outfitted several hospital ships. It also provided clothing and places to stay for freedmen and refugees, and set up schools for black children. It continued to finance various philanthropic projects until 1886.<ref name="parrish1990-17-35">Parrish (1990), 17–35.</ref>