[Non-Sequitur]

We told them we were widdows & that saved us here.

Or was this the reason? Also from the link: "A few widows were able to save their homes and possessions by paying soldiers $25 for protection."

[Maelstrom]

As opposed to burning them all down and not giving them the chance?

Without saying that either side was right to do such a thing, there really isn’t a moral equivalence.