Battle for Henderson Field Carlson's patrol

between 1 , 17 october, japanese delivered 15,000 troops guadalcanal, giving hyakutake 20,000 total troops employ planned offensive. after staff officers observed american defenses around lunga point, hyakutake decided main thrust of planned attack south of henderson field. 2nd division (augmented troops 38th division), under lieutenant general masao maruyama ordered march through jungle , attack american defenses south near east bank of lunga river. 7000-member 2nd division split 3 units; left wing unit under major general yumio nasu containing 29th infantry regiment, right wing unit under kawaguchi consisting of troops 230th infantry regiment (from 38th infantry division), , division reserve led maruyama comprising 16th infantry regiment.

map of battle, 23–26 october. while other japanese forces attack in west @ matanikau (left), maruyama s 2nd division attacks lunga perimeter south (right)

on 23 october, maruyama s forces struggled through jungle reach american lines. kawaguchi—on own initiative—began shift right wing unit east, believing american defenses weaker in area. maruyama, through 1 of staff officers, ordered kawaguchi keep original attack plan. when refused, kawaguchi relieved of command , replaced colonel toshinari shōji, commander of 230th infantry regiment. evening, after learning left , right wing forces still struggling reach american lines, hyakutake postponed attack 19:00 on 24 october. americans remained unaware of approach of maruyama s forces.

finally, late on 24 october, maruyama s forces reached u.s. lunga perimeter. on 2 consecutive nights maruyama s forces conducted numerous unsuccessful frontal assaults on positions defended troops of 1st battalion, 7th marines (1/7) under lieutenant colonel chesty puller , u.s. army s 3rd battalion, 164th infantry regiment, commanded lieutenant colonel robert hall. u.s. marine , army rifle, machine gun, mortar, artillery , direct canister fire 37 mm (1.46 in) anti-tank guns wrought terrible carnage on japanese. more 1,500 of maruyama s troops killed in attacks while americans lost 60 killed. shōji s right wing units did not participate in attacks, choosing remain in place cover nasu s right flank against possible attack in area u.s. forces never materialized.

at 08:00 on 26 october, hyakutake called off further attacks , ordered forces retreat. maruyama s left wing , division reserve survivors ordered retreat matanikau river area while right wing unit under shōji told head koli point, 13 mi (21 km) east of lunga river. shōji , troops began arriving @ koli point on november 3.