This action, which demonstrated that his courage and resource were less lofty than his ambition, did not however prevent his being elected President of the South African Republic.

In 1860 the union took place.
Notwithstanding his incursion and subsequent flight, Pretorius succeeded in getting himself elected president of the Orange Free State also.

But the Transvaal burghers dreaded absorption by their neighbours, and deposed him.

A petty civil war between his partisans and opponents was the consequence; several presidents were elected and deposed.

Krueger, whom we now see making his appearance, and Schoeman, in turn, chased each other out of Potchefstroom.