In 1832, the governor of Illinois called for the state militia to campaign against the Indians under Black Hawk. Black Hawk was the war chief of the Sacs, who had tried to reclaim territories that they had given up by treaties. Young Abraham Lincoln joined a volunteer company and was elected captain. He said later that he had no success in life, which gave him so much satisfaction as his experience with the Illinois Militia. When it appeared that his unit would not see service, many members disbanded and went home. This group included Abraham Lincoln, who left because he wanted to be of real service. Lincoln was mustered out; however, he reenlisted as a private in a scouting service sometimes called the Independent Spy Battalion. He was mustered out of the Battalion on June 16, 1832. In 1861 Abraham Lincoln became the 16th president of the United States of America.