 Once Virginia joined the Confederacy , the capital was moved to Richmond , though against Benjamin 's advice — he believed that the city was too close to the North . Nevertheless , he traveled there with his brother @-@ in @-@ law , Jules St. Martin ; the two lived in the same house throughout the war , and Benjamin probably procured the young man 's job at the War Department . Although Alabama 's Leroy Walker was Secretary of War , Davis — a war hero and former U.S. War Secretary — considered himself more qualified and gave many orders himself . When the Confederates were unable to follow up their victory at the First Battle of Manassas by threatening Washington , Walker was criticized in the press . In September , Walker resigned to join the army as a brigadier general , and Davis appointed Benjamin in his place . Butler wrote that Davis had found the cheerfully competent Benjamin " a most useful member of the official family , and thought him suited for almost any post in it . " In addition to his appointment as War Secretary , Benjamin continued to act as Attorney General until November 15 , 1861 . 
