From the fall of Fort Donelson to the war’s end, Clifton saw significant military activity as an important port on the Tennessee River and a primary ferry crossing between Middle and West Tennessee. During his West Tennessee raid in December 1862, Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest used the Clifton ferry both entering and leaving West Tennessee. Late in December 1863, the 2nd Tennessee Mounted Infantry (US) occupied Clifton and placed a garrison on Stockade Hill behind Clifton Presbyterian Church, which Confederate troops had used as a hospital and the Federals then used as a livery stable and blacksmith shop. Damage to the church led to a claim against the United States, which compensated the congregation with $780 in 1915, and the funds were used to build the present tall steeple. On July 15, 1864, USS Undine, an eight-gun boat, arrived at Clifton, but after departing that afternoon it struck a snag, suffered a two-foot-long gash, and sank. Its sailors removed the guns and ammunition, gave two cannons to the Clifton garrison, and placed two others on the riverbank to cover the roads to the river and the west bank opposite Clifton. Five days later, the 19th Tennessee Cavalry (CS) prepared to attack Clifton and demanded the town’s surrender, but after the Federal commander refused, the Confederates withdrew. The next day, U.S. Navy forces salvaged USS Undine, which Forrest later captured, making it the only naval vessel operated by a cavalry unit.