Just after midnight on August 21, Ichiki's main body of troops arrived at the east bank of Alligator Creek and were surprised to encounter the Marine positions, not having expected to find U.S. forces located that distance from the airfield.
Lige efter midnat den 21. august ankom hovedstyrken af Ichikis tropper ved den østlige bred af Alligator Creek og blev overrasket over at møde marinesoldaternes stillinger, da de ikke havde ventet at finde amerikanske styrker så langt fra flyvepladsen.