 The power of state governments were another flaw in the Confederacy and a problem for Benjamin . Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown repeatedly demanded arms and the return of Georgian troops to defend their state . North Carolina 's governor , Henry T. Clark , also wanted troops returned to him to defend his coastline . After Cape Hatteras , on North Carolina 's coast , was captured , Confederate forces fell back to Roanoke Island . If that fell , a number of ports in that area of the coast would be at risk , and Norfolk , Virginia , might be threatened by land . 
