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The Battle of Waterloo: The Axeman of Hougoumont

The History Explorer

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In this gripping episode, we take you inside one of the most iconic and brutal moments of the Battle of Waterloo — the assault on Hougoumont Farm. At the heart of this ferocious attack was Sous-Lieutenant Legros, a towering French officer remembered for wielding an axe and smashing through the North Gate, leading French troops into what would become a deadly killing ground.

But who was Legros? What drove him to lead such a daring charge? And how did a single moment at Hougoumont help decide the fate of Napoleon's final battle?

Using detailed battlefield maps, eyewitness accounts, and powerful imagery, this video uncovers the full story of Legros’ dramatic assault, the chaos that followed inside the farm's walls, and how a small band of British Guardsmen sealed the gate shut again — trapping Legros and his men in a vicious close-quarters fight.
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20 Comments

@MarioGemoli 1 year ago

I have been to Waterloo many a time,l never tire of hearing the stories of Hougomont,very good,well done

@blakestunts 1 year ago

If you read Clays account there were 4 incursion by the French, the lower yard gate, the west door, the south or upper yard gate and the garden where he walks past dead French bodies the next morning. Plus the evidence from Waterloo Uncovered has found that the heaviest of the fighting was the eastern end of the garden. Clay’s is one of the best first hand accounts.

@gerrypowell2748 1 year ago

You simply cannot imagine the bravery on both sides of this battle 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇫🇷

@bipbap243 1 year ago

Love the image overlays and different angle perspective. Too many vids on youtube show a map, explain the story and expect you to form a picture in your head when it's the small details that make the difference.
Loved it

@Eric-kv1ip 1 year ago

Excellent narration and graphics. You're very good at this stuff.

@maddon001 1 year ago

u missed the fact a rothschild agent got the news to london at least a whole day before wellingtons messenger

@sandpiperuk 11 months ago (edited)

I remember camping in the grounds around 2005 as part of the 2/95th Rifles reenactment group. I "fought" three battles of Waterloo in 2001/3/5 and appreciate the fact that almost 200 year later it was done to remember history and no-one got hurt. Well, I think "Napoleon" fell off his horse one time! The farm in those days was in a very bad state with the garden wall damaged and the buildings neglected. I visited in September 2025 whilst on a motorcycle journey and was impressed at the restoration of the farm and the new museum. By the number of Napoleon gifts avalable you'd have thought the bugg&r actuall won. Great video btw.

@exmoorfarmer4880 1 year ago

Myself and two friends are staying a night at the farm this week. Its going to be simply amazing.

@lorddaquanofhouserastafari4177 1 year ago

This era of warfare is so interesting and it boggles my mind how men had such bravery

@soldat2501 1 year ago (edited)

Instant sub for no AI voice and great content. Great storytelling. Maybe the next Dr Mark Felton?

@Crab_Salts 1 year ago

Survive History has a short (possibly a longer video, too) about the Napoleonic sapeurs. The bearded and burly reenactor from the video is EXACTLY who I'm picturing hacking away at the gate. 😂

@oldafsarge 1 year ago

Superb video! I have visited the field of Waterloo a number of times and I never tire of hearing of the fight at Hougoumont. More please!

@battleslang 1 year ago

With regard to the fate of the casualties, there are accounts from those who visited the battlefield the day after that describe an utter charnel house of broken and shatter men and horses everywhere.
There is one account of a surviving British officer touring the battlefield the day after and happening upon a young French cavalryman. He is said to have arranged his evacuation from the battlefield and the Frenchman survived and returned to his family and actually extending an invite to the British officer to come to his house. Apparently he was nicknamed the "Bon Anglais" for saving this man's life.

@colinelliott5629 1 year ago (edited)

I'm very familiar with Wellington's battles, including Waterloo, because he was so good at it, and human.
I therefore knew the story of Hougemont, so found this video illuminating. What's more, it was beautifully done, and it's nice to see that all is now peaceful, and to know that warfare within the nations involved ended 80 years ago, and won't return, even though the world remains unhappy in so many places elsewhere.

@michaeltovey02607 1 year ago

Waterloo, a single battle campaign the outcome of which gave Britain the opportunity to consolidate a huge worldwide empire. Great video. Thank you.

@AM-el4iv 1 year ago

Love the details, the imposed graphics, and the footage. Great presentation.

@lassataest5604 1 year ago

This is top notch. I love history, specifically conflicts. The imagery you create to make one actually see the history is fantastic.

@generalsandnapoleon 1 year ago

Fantastic stuff! More Napoleonic content please.

@lynnechambers6854 1 day ago

I am an expert on the final days of Napoleon, and I am convinced that it was here that he met his Waterloo. Unfortunately a lot of his soldiers met their respective Waterloos, having died in service of the emperor's Napoleon complex.