"In the fields"What strange situation does LT. Cross think about in comparison when watching his men search the field? What sobering realization does he come to at the end of his thought?

While the men search for the body, Cross thinks about the letter he will write to Kiowa’s father breaking the news of the death. He will write about what a splendid soldier Kiowa was. He then considers Kiowa's death was his fault. He thinks about writing a different letter to Kiowa’s father, taking full responsibility for Kiowa’s death, saying that it was his mistake for choosing the wrong spot to camp.