In the late war, he moved to Waco, Texas, and later lived in Georgetown, where he practiced law again.

Coffee was born in Smith County, Tennessee where he taught himself law and was admitted to the bar.

He resigned in 1855 to accept a captain position with the First U.S. Army Cavalry Regiment at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

After serving only four months, he resigned the captain position due to illness and returned to Greenfield.

With the beginning of the American Civil War, Coffee raised a regiment in Dade County and was commissioned as a colonel in the Confederate Army.

In October 1863, Coffee's troops captured the Union garrison in his hometown of Greenfield and burned the courthouse.

[1] After the Pineville conflict, Coffee was passed over for promotion for General Joseph O. Shelby, who was given command of Missouri forces.

After the surrender of the Confederates, Coffee refused a request by Shelby to continue the fight under the flag of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico.