Battle of Guadalcanal
The offensive toward Kokumbona and the Poha River is resumed. Gen Sebree is in tactical command. His plan is first to gain a line of departure far enough west of the Matanikau and far enough south of the beach to provide sufficient room for the regiments to maneuver. The line which he planned to capture ran about 2,500 yards inland from Point Cruz to the southernmost point (Hill 66) of a 1,700-yard-long ridge (Hills 66-81-80). The 2nd Battalion, 182 Infantry, is to cross the Matanikau to seize Hill 66, the 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry, will advance across the river and west to Point Cruz the next day. Since the bridges had been destroyed during the withdrawal a week earlier, engineers are to bridge the river again, improve the coast road, and build a trail over the ridges to Hill 66.
Unknown to the Americans, the 17th Army is also planning local offensive action. The 38th Division is ordered to advance east from Kokumbona, cross the Matanikau and seize the high ground on the east bank for artillery positions and as a line of departure for another assault against the Lunga airfields. At the same time Ito's troops are ordered to occupy Mount Austen.
The 2nd Battalion, 182nd Infantry, under Lt-Col Bernard B. Twombley, covered by 8th Marines on east bank of the Matanikau, cross the footbridges about 700 yards from Matanikau's mouth to seize Hill 66. The battalion climbs to the top of the first ridge on the west bank (Hill 75) and advances southwest behind the ridge crest toward Hill 66, about 2,000 yards from Hill 75. They meet no Japanese but the inexperienced troops make slow progress. They reach Hill 66 about noon and dig in, G Company on the left, F on the right, E Company the battalion reserve, H Company puts its mortars in a gully behind the battalion command post. In a skirmish with a Japanese patrol while getting water, 2 Americans killed.
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