Joseph Godin dit Bellefontaine, a leader of the local militia and the father of one of the women, claimed that he was forced to witness this event in an attempt to coerce his cooperation with the rangers. (Godin escaped into the woods with two of his grandchildren.) General Jeffery Amherst, who did not hear of the incident until after he had promoted Hazen to captain, noted, "I am sorry that to say what I have since heard of that affair has sullied his merit with me as I shall always disapprove of killing women and helpless children."
Joseph Godin dit Bellefontaine, a militia leader and father of one of the victims, falsely claimed he was forced to witness the event in order to gain favor with the rangers. (Godin escaped into the woods with his grandchildren.) General Jeffery Amherst, who only learned about the incident after promoting Hazen to captain, expressed regret that the affair had tarnished his opinion of Hazen, whom he would always disapprove of killing innocent women and children.