 The Confederate's need for war materiel played a very significant role in its decision to move its capital from Montgomery, Alabama to Richmond in May 1861, despite its dangerous northern location 100 miles south of the United States capital in Washington, DC.It was mainly for this industrial reason that the Confederates fought so hard to defend the city.The capital of the Confederacy could easily be moved again if necessary, but Richmond's industry and factories could not be moved.