At daybreak on August 21, the commanders of the U.S. Marine units facing Ichiki's troops conferred on how best to proceed, and they decided to counterattack.
Ved daggry den 21. august diskuterede cheferne for de amerikanske marineinfanterister, der stod over for Ichikis tropper, hvordan de bedst kunne fortsætte, og de besluttede at gå til modangreb.