 In his months as War Secretary , Benjamin sent thousands of communications . According to Evans , Benjamin initially " turn [ ed ] prejudice to his favor and play [ ed ] on the Southerner 's instinctive respect for the Jewish mind with a brilliant performance " . Nevertheless , Benjamin faced difficulties that he could do little about . The Confederacy lacked sufficient soldiers , trained officers to command them , naval and civilian ships , manufacturing capacity to make ships and many weapons , and powder for guns and cannon . The Union had these things , and moved to block the South 's access to European supplies , both by blockade and by buying up supplies the South might have secured . Other problems included drunkenness among the men — and their officers — and uncertainty as to when and where the expected Northern invasion would begin . Further , Benjamin had no experience of the military , or of the executive branch of the government , placing him in a poor position to contradict President Davis . 
