He alternated tours of duty afloat and ashore through the 1880s, serving in such ships as Benicia, Saranac, Marion, Shenandoah, before teaching steam engineering at the Naval Academy from 1882 to 1886.

Barton then served three years on the Asiatic Station, on Essex and Palos, before returning to the Naval Academy for another tour of duty as instructor (1889–1893).

Barton returned to the Asiatic Station in 1900 and served on the cruiser Newark and the battleship Kentucky before becoming fleet engineer in 1903.

On December 21, 1908, he assumed the title of engineer-in-chief as Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering with the rank of rear admiral.

Only two days later, Barton was detached to return home due to illness and was simultaneously transferred to the navy's retired list.