When he led the Boers at Majuba and Laing's Nek, in 1881, he was in the prime of his life--energetic, resourceful, and undaunted by any reverses.

In 1899, when he followed the commandos into Natal, he was absolutely the reverse--slow, wavering, and too timid to move from his tent.

He constantly remained many miles in the rear of the advance column, and only once went into the danger zone, when he led a small commando south of the Tugela.

Then, instead of leading his victorious burghers against the forces of the enemy, he retreated precipitately at the first sign of danger, and established himself at Modderspruit, a day's journey from the foremost commandos, where he remained with almost ten thousand of his men for three months.
Joubert attempted to wage war without the shedding of blood, and he failed.

When General Meyer reported that about thirty Boers had been killed and injured in the fight at Dundee, the Commandant-General censured him harshly for making such a great sacrifice of blood, and forbade him from following the fleeing enemy, as such a course would entail still greater casualties.