Col. John T.Coffee was a prominent lawyer and was in the U.S. Kansas Cavalry prior to the start of the civil war. President Lincoln wrote John T. Coffee a letter asking him to raise a regiment of U.S. Cavalry in S.W. Missouri. Unknown to "Uncle Abe", Col. Coffee's loyalties were with the south, as were all members of the Coffee Clan. Col.Coffee burned Lincoln's letter along with his law office and raise a regiment of Confederate Volunteer Cavalry.

Col.John T.Coffee's brother, Pvt.Benjamin Franklin Coffee (b.october 14, 1826 - d.September 20, 1846), was killed in the Mexican-American War. He was in Co.D, Tennessee Voluteer Cavalry Regiment, U.S.A. He was the first American soldier to be killed at the battle of Monterrey, Mexico. According to Gen. Zachary Taylor's battle summary, the battle at Monterrey started on September 21,1846. Pvt. B.F. Coffee was in the advance guard which encountered the Mexican Army the day before the battle started.