Terry, I'm not aware of any special relationship Baber had with McCray.
As to recruiting duty, if memory serves, Baber was ordered on recruiting duty in January of 1864.
There's a bio article on him in Turner Publ Co's. History of Lawrence County, written by what appears to be a relative of his 2nd wife. She cites no memoirs or other reminiscences Baber might have left behind. Certainly I haven't found such. This book can be found in google books.