Petrus Johannes Liebenberg (Piet Liebenberg, 29 September 1857 – 5 March 1950) was a Boer general in the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902). Family and early years Liebenberg was born near Hoopstad in Orange Free State to Christiaan Jacobus Liebenberg and Catharina Petronella van der Westhuizen. In 1874 he lived at the farm Witpoort in the district of Klerksdorp, South African Republic. Liebenberg took part in several military actions against neighbouring black peoples and fought in the First Boer War. In 1896 he represented the district of Potchefstroom in the Second Volksraad parliament. Second Boer War After the outbreak of the Second Boer War Liebenberg served at the western front in the Battle of Kraaipan on 12 October 1899. Later he fought in the Battle of Modder River (Afrikaans: Slag van die Twee Riviere, 28 November 1899) and the Battle of Magersfontein (Slag van Magersfontein, 11 December 1899) and joined in the Siege of Mafeking (Beleg van Mafikeng, October 1899 – May 1900) as a commander. In January 1900 he was promoted to the rank of fighting general (veggeneraal). Invasion of the Cape Colony Liebenberg was ordered by general Piet Cronjé to invade the Cape Colony both to sabotage the railway Cape Town-De Aar-Bloemfontein-Pretoria near De Aar, which was vital for the invading British army of Lord Roberts, and to recruit Boer men in the British Cape Colony (Afrikaans: "nuwe burgers", new citizens, as "Cape rebels") to the cause of the two Boer Republics at war. He left Cronjé's army camp (laer) at Magersfontein at the end of January 1900 with some 200 men and two cannon. He was later joined by Commanders Koos Jooste and Andries de Wet, who had obtained permission from Transvaal president Paul Kruger for their plan to destroy the railway near De Aar. Cape rebel Lucas Petrus Steenkamp (1845–1919) became the Assistant Chief Commander under general Liebenberg. Steenkamp had considered the recruitment of up to 6000 soldiers in the Cape Colony as the priority, before going south and cutting the railway and British lifeline between De Aar and Hopetown. On 15 February 1900, they occupied Prieska and environs in the Karoo, Northern Cape and declared it a part of the Orange Free State. Two days later, Cronjé sent an urgent message to now speedily attack the railway. Liebenberg recruited 200 men in Griekwastad on 28 February 1900 and chased away 500–700 British troops under Colonel Adye at