Phil Coe
Encyclopedia
Phil Coe born Phillip Houston Coe, was a soldier
, and Old West gambler and businessman from Texas
. He became the business partner of gunfighter Ben Thompson
in Abilene, Kansas
. He was killed by marshal
Wild Bill Hickok
in a street brawl.
, one of the earliest Anglo-American settlements and the first west of the Colorado River.
. He later served in the 2nd Texas Cavalry, ending his service in the army in April 1863. He is believed to have served in Mexico
under Emperor Maximilian
following the Civil War's end.
After the war, Coe drifted through Texas, meeting gunman Bill Longley
, and learning the art of gambling from gunman Ben Thompson, with whom he'd served in the military in Mexico. For a time he settled in Salina, Kansas
. He was known as a saloon owner and talented gambler. In May 1871, Coe became a business partner with Ben Thompson in Abilene, running the Bullshead Saloon. It was the center of male town life, and he became associated with many Old West figures, to include John Wesley Hardin
and Abilene town marshal
Wild Bill Hickok
.
Coe and Hickok disagreed on numerous topics. Coe greatly disliked Marshal Hickok, but Thompson generally got along with him; the two seemed to respect each other's reputation. At one point, Coe and Hickok passed words, during which Coe bragged of his shooting expertise. Hickok's retort to Coe, who supposedly stated he could "kill a crow on the wing", became famous (though possibly apocryphal): "Did the crow have a pistol? Was he shooting back? I will be."
On October 5, 1871, Hickok was standing off a crowd during a street brawl. From the crowd Coe fired two shots at Hickok, and missed. Hickok returned fire, hitting Coe. Due to the chaos of the crowd, Hickok also accidentally shot and killed his deputy, Mike Williams, who was coming to his aid. This haunted Hickok for the rest of his life.
Coe lingered for several days, dying on October 9, 1871. He was Hickok's last known gunfight fatality. Coe's body was taken to Brenham, Texas
, where he had family, and was buried in Prairie Lea Cemetery.
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, and Old West gambler and businessman from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He became the business partner of gunfighter Ben Thompson
Ben Thompson
Ben Thompson was a gunman, gambler, and sometime lawman of the Old West. He was a contemporary of Wyatt Earp, Buffalo Bill Cody, Doc Holliday, John Wesley Hardin and James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickock, some of whom considered him a trusted friend, others an enemy.Ben Thompson had a colorful career,...
in Abilene, Kansas
Abilene, Kansas
Abilene is a city in and the county seat of Dickinson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 6,844.-History:...
. He was killed by marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
Wild Bill Hickok
Wild Bill Hickok
James Butler Hickok , better known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West. His skills as a gunfighter and scout, along with his reputation as a lawman, provided the basis for his fame, although some of his exploits are fictionalized.Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach...
in a street brawl.
Early life
Coe was born to Texian parents either on July 17 or July 18, 1839, in Gonzales, TexasGonzales, Texas
Gonzales is a city in Gonzales County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gonzales County.-Geography:Gonzales is located at...
, one of the earliest Anglo-American settlements and the first west of the Colorado River.
Career
In March 1862, Coe at age 23 joined the 36th Texas Cavalry of the Confederate Army during the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He later served in the 2nd Texas Cavalry, ending his service in the army in April 1863. He is believed to have served in Mexico
French intervention in Mexico
The French intervention in Mexico , also known as The Maximilian Affair, War of the French Intervention, and The Franco-Mexican War, was an invasion of Mexico by an expeditionary force sent by the Second French Empire, supported in the beginning by the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Spain...
under Emperor Maximilian
Maximilian I of Mexico
Maximilian I was the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire.After a distinguished career in the Austrian Navy, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on April 10, 1864, with the backing of Napoleon III of France and a group of Mexican monarchists who sought to revive the Mexican monarchy...
following the Civil War's end.
After the war, Coe drifted through Texas, meeting gunman Bill Longley
William P. Longley
William Preston Longley , also known as Wild Bill Longley, was an American Old West outlaw and gunfighter noted for his ruthless nature, speed with a gun, quick temper, and unpredictable demeanour...
, and learning the art of gambling from gunman Ben Thompson, with whom he'd served in the military in Mexico. For a time he settled in Salina, Kansas
Salina, Kansas
Salina is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 47,707. Located in one of the world's largest wheat-producing areas, Salina is a regional trade center for north-central Kansas...
. He was known as a saloon owner and talented gambler. In May 1871, Coe became a business partner with Ben Thompson in Abilene, running the Bullshead Saloon. It was the center of male town life, and he became associated with many Old West figures, to include John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin was an American outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk hero of the Old West. He was born in Bonham, Texas. Hardin found himself in trouble with the law at an early age, and spent the majority of his life being pursued by both local lawmen and federal troops of the...
and Abilene town marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
Wild Bill Hickok
Wild Bill Hickok
James Butler Hickok , better known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West. His skills as a gunfighter and scout, along with his reputation as a lawman, provided the basis for his fame, although some of his exploits are fictionalized.Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach...
.
Coe and Hickok disagreed on numerous topics. Coe greatly disliked Marshal Hickok, but Thompson generally got along with him; the two seemed to respect each other's reputation. At one point, Coe and Hickok passed words, during which Coe bragged of his shooting expertise. Hickok's retort to Coe, who supposedly stated he could "kill a crow on the wing", became famous (though possibly apocryphal): "Did the crow have a pistol? Was he shooting back? I will be."
On October 5, 1871, Hickok was standing off a crowd during a street brawl. From the crowd Coe fired two shots at Hickok, and missed. Hickok returned fire, hitting Coe. Due to the chaos of the crowd, Hickok also accidentally shot and killed his deputy, Mike Williams, who was coming to his aid. This haunted Hickok for the rest of his life.
Coe lingered for several days, dying on October 9, 1871. He was Hickok's last known gunfight fatality. Coe's body was taken to Brenham, Texas
Brenham, Texas
Brenham is a city in east-central Texas in Washington County, Texas, United States, with a population of 16,147 according to the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
, where he had family, and was buried in Prairie Lea Cemetery.