Complex sentence: Nevertheless, Benjamin faced difficulties that he could do little about: the South lacked sufficient soldiers, trained officers to command them, naval and civilian ships, manufacturing capacity to make significant numbers of ships and weapons, and powder for guns and cannon.
Split into simpler sentences: Nevertheless, Benjamin faced difficulties that he could do little about. The South 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.