In Peruvian waters In 1824, at the age of 18, Coe joined the
Chilean fleet, then commanded by
Lord Cochrane, and served on board the
brig Protector during the
Peruvian War of Independence.
Cisplatine War Serving as an officer in the
Argentine fleet under
Admiral William Brown, he achieved distinction in the battles of
Juncal and
Monte Santiago in the
Cisplatine War that led to the
Uruguayan independence in 1828. Following these reverses, President Rivera appointed Italian skipper
Giuseppe Garibaldi to the rank of
colonel and created the command of the
2ª División de la Escuadra Oriental, transferring most of Coe's ships to the new fleet. The new unit achieved some success before being routed by Admiral Brown in the battle of Costa Brava, on the
Paraná River. On June 26, however, Coe deserted to the United States aboard the American sloop
USS Jamestown after being bribed by Buenos Aires' citizens. ==Personal life==