He explained that he had been detailed by Admiral Porter to escort the President's unarmed boat, the River Queen, in which capacity it became his special duty to look after Mrs.Lincoln.

The day before my arrival at City Point, there had been a grand review of a part of the Army of the James, then commanded by General Ord.

The President rode out from City Point with General Grant on horseback, accompanied by a numerous staff, including Captain Barnes and Mrs.Ord; but Mrs.
Lincoln and Mrs.Grant had followed in a carriage.
The cavalcade reached the review-ground some five or six miles out from City Point, found the troops all ready, drawn up in line, and after the usual presentation of arms, the President and party, followed by Mrs.Ord and Captain Barnes on horseback, rode the lines, and returned to the reviewing stand, which meantime had been reached by Mrs.Lincoln and Mrs.Grant in their carriage, which had been delayed by the driver taking a wrong road.

Mrs.Lincoln, seeing Mrs.Ord and Captain Barnes riding with the retinue, and supposing that Mrs.Ord had personated her, turned on Captain Barnes and gave him a fearful scolding; and even indulged in some pretty sharp upbraidings to Mrs.Ord.
This made Barne's position very unpleasant, so that he felt much relieved when he was sent with me to North Carolina.

The Bat was very fast, and on the morning of the 29th we were near Cape Hatteras; Captain Barnes, noticing a propeller coming out of Hatteras Inlet, made her turn back and pilot us in.