The Daily Dispatch: September 20, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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Only thunder.

--Night before last, says the New Orleans Bulletin, of Monday, and at an early hour yesterday morning many of our citizens were somewhat startled by what they believed to be the distant booming of cannon, and many were the speculations indulged in as to the cause of these warlike sounds. Some persons, whose knowledge of the distance that sound can travel is limited, surmised that an attack had been made upon Ship Island; others thought Major Clinch, at Fort Pike had been exchanging compliments in the shape of shot and shell with some Hessian marauders --while others concluded that an ‘"artillery duel"’ had taken place between Col. Duncan's forces at Forts Jackson and St. Phillip and some of Dr. Abe's blockaders. To quiet the apprehensions of nervous people Gov. Moore telegraphed to the commanders of the forts, and received replies that no powder had been burned by them as yet with hostile intent. The natural conclusion, therefore, was that the mysterious sounds were nothing more than the hoarse mutterings of distant thunder.