▁American ▁forces ▁were ▁expecting ▁an ▁im min ent ▁off ensive ▁by ▁Japanese ▁ground ▁forces , ▁but ▁they ▁were ▁not ▁sure ▁where ▁and ▁when ▁it ▁would ▁take ▁place . ▁ ▁Tro op ▁movement ▁Because ▁of ▁the ▁loss ▁of ▁their ▁positions ▁on ▁the ▁east ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁Mat an ik au , ▁the ▁Japanese ▁decided ▁that ▁an ▁attack ▁on ▁the ▁U . S . ▁def enses ▁along ▁the ▁coast ▁would ▁be ▁prohib it ively ▁difficult . ▁Thus , ▁after ▁observation ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁def enses ▁around ▁L ung a ▁Point ▁by ▁his ▁staff ▁officers , ▁Hy ak ut ake ▁decided ▁that ▁the ▁main ▁thrust ▁of ▁his ▁planned ▁attack ▁would ▁be ▁from ▁south ▁of ▁Hend erson ▁Field . ▁His ▁ 2 nd ▁Division ▁( aug ment ed ▁by ▁one ▁regiment ▁from ▁ 3 8 th ▁Division ), ▁under ▁Lieutenant ▁General ▁Mas ao ▁Mar uy ama ▁and ▁compr ising ▁ 7 , 0 0 0 ▁soldiers ▁in ▁three ▁inf antry ▁reg iments ▁of ▁three ▁batt al ions ▁each ▁was ▁ordered ▁to ▁march ▁through ▁the ▁j ung le ▁and ▁attack ▁the ▁American ▁def enses ▁from ▁the ▁south ▁near ▁the ▁east ▁bank ▁of ▁the ▁L ung a ▁River . ▁The ▁ 2 nd ▁Division ▁was ▁split ▁into ▁three ▁units ; ▁the ▁Left ▁Wing ▁Unit ▁under ▁Major ▁General ▁Y um io ▁Nas u ▁containing ▁the ▁ 2 9 th ▁Infantry ▁Regiment , ▁the ▁Right ▁Wing ▁Unit ▁under ▁Major ▁General ▁Ki y ot ake ▁K aw ag uch i ▁consisting ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 3 0 th ▁Infantry ▁Regiment ▁( from