[8] In the Second Boer War Potgieter commanded the Wolmaransstad Commando for the South African Republic and fought in many actions such as Battle of Magersfontein (11 December 1899)[9] and the Siege of Kimberley on 11 November 1899,[10] ultimately being promoted to the rank of a fighting general (veggeneraal).

[12] After the capture of the capital of Pretoria by Lord Roberts on 5 June 1900, Potgieter continued the war under general Koos de la Rey as a 'bittereinder' (Afrikaans for fighter to the bitter end, diehard).

While De la Rey was away attending peace ouvertures at Vereeniging, Potgieter and Boer general Jan Kemp performed an audacious but failed charge without cover against a British line to again escape encirclement, this time in the Battle of Rooiwal (11 April 1902) in the Lichtenburg district near Klerksdorp.

Historian Thomas Pakenham wrote: The Boers, led by Generals Kemp and Potgieter, galloped on towards destruction, as though possessed by the spirit of Lord Lucan and the Light Brigade...The six British guns began to tear holes in the column.

Still they came on, gambling everything on the chance that the British would turn and run... [Later:] A mile away, Potgieter lay sprawled thirty yards from the South African Constabulary line, conspicuous with his neatly trimmed beard and blue shirt, and there were three bullets in his head and body.