 At the beginning of the Uruguayan Civil War, he was given the rank of Commodore and placed in command over the fledgling Uruguayan Navy's "Escuadra Oriental", consisting of the flagship "Cagancha"; the corvettes "Constitución", "Sarandi", and "25 de Mayo"; the brig "Pereyra"; and the schooner "General Rivera".Although Brown's fleet was of similar size, Coe remained in harbor at Montevideo under the protection of the shore batteries for two months.On May 24, 1841, thinking Brown's forces to be scattered, he sailed out of the harbor only to be forced to retreat back in at dusk.