Problems were to be submitted in sets of three and given an appropriate title.
The 1^st and 2^nd place sets  (by Rudolf Willmers and Conrad Bayer respectively) were both mates-in-four. 3^rd place, Sam Loyd, however, gave a mate-in-three, mate-in-four and mate-in-five)

For 1^st place, Rudolf Willmers' problems entitled, "Strive for Honor!", won $30 and 5 copies of the Congress tournament book.
For 2^nd place, Conrad Bayer's problems entitled, "Three is the Charm", won $15 and 3 copies of the book.
For 3^rd place (honorable mention), Sam Loyd's problems entitled, "Certum Pete Finem", won nothing.

Other sets entered:
   Non Quo, Sed Quomodo - by H. R. Agnel of West Point
   Des Strebendwerth  - by Franz della Torre of Vienna
   But Washington's a watchword, such as ne'er
   Shall sink while there's an echo left to air - by Charles White of Sunbury, England
   Quod Potui Perfeci - by Theo. M. Brown of Newark, N. J.
   Credo Majori and Curiosum (seemingly a dual-named set of two) by Cark Meier of Bremen
other (non-set) single compositions were arranged by E. B. Cook for inclusion in the book, including 6 compositions each by:
   J. A. Potter of Salem, Mass.
   Denis Julien of New York City
   Eugene B. Cook of Hoboken, N. J.
   Sam Loyd of Florence, N. J.
   Napoleon Marache of New York City
and two special problems by E. B. Cook
   Dedicated with the Highest Esteem and Admiration to Paul Morphy, The Only - used as tournament book's frontpiece
   With Friendly Regard, to Rudolph Willmers, Conrad Bayer and S. Loyd

also submitted but not included in the tournament book:
When we cannot do as we wish, we must do as we can - by John Tanner of New Orleans
Les Trois Mousquetaires - by Edwin J. Weller of Boston
A. B. C. - by T. J. Grotjan of San Francisco

From the tournament book:

Mr. Rudolph Willmers, who secured the highest prize in this intellectual joust, is an eminent pianist, occupying a position in the musical profession side by side with the celebrated Liszt. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the year 1820, pursued the study of music in Germany, and since the year 1838 has given concerts in the leading cities of Europe. He was an unsuccessful competitor for the prize in the Problem Tournament, which was originated some two years since by Mr. Löwenthal, the chess editor of the London Era.
The winner of the second prize, Mr. Conrad Bayer, has been known for some years as one of the most ingenious and fertile problem composers of the day. To the chess journals of Germany, England and America, he is a frequent and valuable contributor, both of stratagems and literary articles. In 1857 he took the prize in the Era Problem Tournay.
Mr. Samuel Loyd, who holds the third place on the Committee's list, although stil very young, has already gained a high reputation on both sides of the Atlantic for his genius in the strategic art. He was born in Philadelphia in the year 1841, and began to publish chess problems at the age of fifteen. For the last three years no composer has been more prolific. He gained in 1857 the first prize in the Chess Monthly Problem Tournay.
Professor Agnel is the author of Chess for Winter Evenings; Mr. Franz della Torre is one of the foremost of the many famous problem-makers of Germany; Mr. Charles White is a contributor to the British chess organs, in which he has published some fine specimens of his powers, and is about twenty years of age; Dr. Carl Meier is the author, we believe, of a German work on chess, which appeared in 1844; and Mr. Theodore M. Brown has distinguished himself by the composition of a host of beautiful positions, and in the department of suicidal and conditional problems has few superiors