 Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - Apo Hondo yeUnion yakapinda muNorthern Virginia pana May 24, 1861, Barnard akatarisira kuvakwa kwenzvimbo dzokuvakisa pachikomo cheArlington. Akaperekedzawo mauto kuManassas muna Chikunguru 1861 uye aivepo pakukundwa kweUnion muFirst Battle of Bull Run Manassas. Pakati paJune 1861 naSeptember 1861, Barnard akashandawo paU.S. Navys Blockade Strategy Board. Major General George B. McClellan akatora kutungamirira kweMasoja eDivision of the Potomac, mauto akapoteredza Washington, D.C., pana July 23, 1861. Musi waAugust 15, 1861, McClellan akagadzwa kuti ave mukuru wemauto uye Dhipatimendi rePotomac, uye Barnard akava injinjini mukuru weMasoja eDunhu reWashington. Sezvo McClellan akaronga pfungwa dzake dzokuvaka nhare dzakapoteredza Washington, D.C., Barnard akaronga, akagadzira uye akatarisira kuvakwa kwavo. 