Brigadier General George Crook was appointed to command the Department of West Virginia, an American field army, during the American Civil War on July 25, 1864, but he only assumed command in August.
Nevertheless, he was appointed as a replacement for David Hunter in command of the Department of West Virginia the following day. The Second Battle of Kernstown was fought on July 24, 1864, at Kernstown, Virginia, outside Winchester, Virginia, as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the American Civil War. However Crook did not assume command until August 9. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on September 7, 1862. The Army of West Virginia served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and was the primary field army of the Department of West Virginia. When Crook assumed command on August 9, 1864, the army in the field was given the title "Army of West Virginia". 
