The New York herald., 1862-08-08
Tho Three Monitors ON the Western
II Rivers.

Three powerful and impregnable iron-cad gunboats
named respectively the Chcothe Indianola and Tuscum
ba, building and nearly completed, tho two for
mer at CINCINNATI and the latter at New Albany Indiana.
The three named Of the Monitor order that s
their ornaments are carried in turrets impregnaby
cased ron while every part of the hnlls any
exposed to shot, guarded with heavy plates
several feet below the water line.
The Chilcothe has all her machinery in, her deck
plating completed, her urre than half plated, and
much Of her bow and stern plating Her side plating
would not be put on until she had passed through the
canal at Louisville, her width being such that she
barely 70 through without the plates.
She s the smallest Of the three, built strongly with
SIDES stern her deck son nch
thick and her hull plates two inches Her covered
with three.nch plates carrying two guns Of 1853 pounds
calibre With all her armament on board she will draw
but thirty four inches In length she Is 162 feet with
width Of so feet Her officers rooms and machinery
has two capstans, Of great power which shoal
water, would be able TO haul her over bar with two
feet Of water She has made trial trip and easily makes
The ndianola larger boat being ITO by so feet with
nine foot hold She powerfully and heavily built with
side wheels, and In addition, two propcers She has five
large boilers and four engines Of great power which will
prope her without trouble ten miles per hour up
stream. She also carries l6S pound guns, in
shotproof tower covered with three ron her hull
in every part bow sides and stern being protected by
twonc iron and her deck covered With oneinch plates
In every respect sho Is war vessel OF formidable
strength and designed for and speed in handling,
as well as for the crushing power Of her armament Her
she will be ready for service.
The Tuscumbia is being built at New Albany, her size
being such that she could not be carried through the
canal She is hundred and seventy feet by seventy
with seven foot hold, and will carry hundred and
sixty eight pound guns. She is in every way like vhe
Indanola only larger having sdewhees and propclers.
with Immense engines, in size and )3wsr capable Of
taking her against the current ten miles hour Her
draught viii not exceed forty nine inches. She will be
completed within six weeks and her proper strength
and mvncble power will be far advance OF anything
now the Western waters.
What Constitutes Legal Tcnder-Im-
pOrta mt Dec cision.
In the Philadelphia District Court on Wednesday,
decision gven in the Of Shoenberger for
Ausselman Watts, brief notice of which, in view OF
the importance Of the point involved may not be out CT
place here. The defendants, obligors IN bond dated
Nov 26 1861 in the penal OF 56 3I TS conditioned
for the Of $s 55 SO in SPECIE current gold of
the United States OF America the lEt Of May 1862
with lawful interest, in specie, current gold and silver
the city Of Philadelphia. OF attorney for the
date with the bond 10 confess judgment annexed
70 the bond Under this warrant judgment entered
on the day OF the date OF the bond in the Com
mon Pleas OF Lancaster county According TO the usual
practice the judgment was entered for the penalty Of the
bond, and the record the condition aso tim.
When the day Of payment arrived the obgors rendered
TO the obgee the debt interest and cost in full In the
notes Of the United States which by act Of Congress Of
February 25 1882 made legal tender for all debts,
i. fa issued, which the defendants asked 70 have set
aside The question raised WAS, whether the plaintiff had
right since the act Of Congress- February 25 1862 70
require payment by defendants Of gold and silver money
or was bound TO accept the notes Of the United States
which, by this act, mado legal tender for notes
generally The Court decided that the tender Of United
states sufficient to the obligation in the
bond, and the writ was set aside.