From what I can tell they didn't get paid for drilling- maybe because it was a civic duty, unlike they do today. I have no a idea of what their drill schedule was (once a month, twice,...?). I believe they were smart enough during their drills to have the men actually perform military work-- as part of their training, certainly a must for an effective force. This means, if scheduled correctly, all the companies throughout the city could have been training on different days, but give the city a ready force twenty-four/seven--- for free. Today's reserve forces drill twice a month and two weeks out of the year- for reserve pay. While drilling they perform the same military duties as active forces; I cannot see why the same could not be said of the militia of the 1860s.

This militia law of Louisiana's was unpopular from the beginning which caused it to be revised several times in the weeks following its activation. I have yet to find a complete revision of this law but I have seen references to them.

David