Citizens from both sides helped the army and soldiers. They created emergency hospitals to aid soldiers and families in need. The first woman to receive a licence to practice medicine was Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell. Dr. Blackwell created and organized a group that helped create the U.S. Sanitary Commission on 1861. The U.S. Sanitary Commission was run by Henry Bellows. A lot of people helped by sending The Sanitary bandages, medicine, food, and water to help the Union. There were about 3,000 women who volunteered as nurses.