Born about 1819 in Maury County, Tennessee the son of Nathan Sr., b. 1780 & Mary Gilbreath Coffee. Nathan Sr was a prominent figure in early Maury County History.

Nathan Jr b. 1819 served in and lost his life in the Mexican-American War. (Name may not be duplicate enough to be a Junior)

Description and Historical Register of Enlisted Soldiers of the Army, during the War with Mexico, under the Acts approved January 12th and February 11th 1847.
Soldier Number: 397
Name: Coffey, Nathan, E
Age: 28 / Eyes: Hazel / Hair: Light / Complexion: Fair
Height- Feet: 6' / Height- Inches: 0"
State Where Born: Tennessee / Town or County: Maury
Occupation: Laborer
Enlisted When: 18 Sep 1847 / Enlisted Where: Paducah Ky / Enlisted by whom: Lt. Eastline
Regiment & Co: 14th Infantry, D, F
Died: 26 Jany 1848
Remarks: At Vera Cruz, Mexico, A Private
As Translated by C. Wayne Austin 11 Jan 2019

Nathan Coffee lost his life in Central Mexico during the war to conquer Mexico City. Most of the fighting was completed by 1847, so by 1848 it is possible that Nathan died of a disease during the lull in fighting or maybe from the guerrilla warfare going on to prevent the troops from being resupplied. Supplies were landing by ship at Vera Cruz and being transferred overland to Mexico City. After conquering Mexico City the fighting was essentially over except the terms of the treaty were slow in being resolved which dragged the war on into 1848. The war ended 7 days after Nathan died.

On Feb. 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, establishing the Rio Grande and not the Nueces River as the U.S.-Mexican border. Under the treaty, Mexico also recognized the U.S. annexation of Texas, and agreed to sell California and the rest of its territory north of the Rio Grande for $15 million plus the assumption of certain damages claims. U.S. Troops were then withdrawn from Central Mexico.

A recent Highway construction expansion in Mexico may have destroyed his grave that was not likely marked, but among other mass graves of his unit. It is hard to tell from the description, but maybe the record is telling us he is interred in the Vera Cruz area near the central coast of Mexico.

These American soldiers quickly conquered the capital of Mexico to win those states under President Polk. Obviously the president was not interested in keeping the whole of Mexico afterward.

This is an informational Memorial (Cenotaph). Nathan was buried on the battle field in central Mexico.