Simultaneous with the land attack on Grand Gulf, General Sherman made a demonstration on Haines’ Bluff on Wednesday morning, April 29. A considerable force was embarked on the transports, and preceded by the iron-clad Choctaw and all the wooden gunboats in the Yazoo, proceeded up that stream. The bombardment at the Bluff was chiefly carried on by the gunboats Choctaw, DeKalb, Black Hawk, Romeo, Linden and three mortar boats. The former was struck fifty-two times, and had her upper works pretty badly battered. Her pilot house was struck by an eight-inch solid shot, which penetrated the extreme top, but fortunately injured none of the occupants. Her turret was struck repeatedly, but the shot all glanced off. She was also penetrated by three shots below the water line, one shot entering three feet below the surface of the water. Another shot penetrated her casemates and floundered on her deck. It was supposed to be a shell, and all hands beat a hasty retreat, except Chief Engineer Baldwin, who ran up, seized it and threw it overboard. General Sherman landed his forces on the south bank of the Yazoo. The main object of the expedition was to prevent the enemy from sending reinforcements to Port Gibson. The rebels displayed a large force, and anticipated a battle. The expedition returned on the 7th of May. * * * * * On the third of May, Admiral Porter took possession of the forts at Grand Gulf. The details of the occupation are narrated in his report to Secretary Welles, of the same date: FLAGSHIP BENTON, GRAND GULF, Miss., May 8, 1863. Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy: SIR—I have the honor to report that I got under way this morning with the Lafayette, Carondolet, Mound City and Pittsburg, and proceeded up to the forts at Grand Gulf, for the purpose of attacking them if they had not been abandoned. The enemy had left before we got up, blowing up their ammunition, spiking their large guns, and burying or taking away the lighter ones. The armament consisted of thirteen guns in all. The works are of the most extensive kind, and would seem to defy the efforts of a much heavier fleet than the one which silenced them. The forts were literally torn to pieces by the accuracy of our fire. Colonel Wade, the commandant of the batteries, was killed; also his chief of staff. Eleven men were killed that we know of, and our informant says that many were wounded, and that no one was permitted to go inside the forts after the action except those belonging there. We had a hard fight for these forts, and it is with great pleasure that I report that the navy holds the door of Vicksburg. Grand Gulf is the strongest place on the Mississippi. Had the enemy succeeded in finishing the fortifications no fleet could have taken them.