The MSM was being phased out by the latter part of 1864, with its veterans being heavily recruited into the newly-forming U.S. Volunteer regiments. As the MSM veterans moved on over into Volunteer units or mustered out completely, the MSM regiments they left behind basically became shell organizations consisting of just a few consolidated companies. With the MSM having been considered to be on par with regular Volunteer units, the individual MSM veterans who re-enlisted into the Volunteers were treated one and the same as any other re-enlisting veteran Volunteer soldier, including being paid the same bonuses.