[5] In March 1826, while the War of Independence was in full swing, he participated, together with other revolutionary leaders (Nikolaos Krieziotis, Vasos Mavrovouniotis and Stavros Liakopoulos), in an attempt to create an alliance with the Emir of Lebanon, Bashir Shihab II, against the Ottoman Empire.

[9] In an attempt to revive the revolution there, Dalianis, with 700 men (600 on foot, 100 with horses and mules),[4] landed initially at Gramvousa on 5 January 1828, but decided to restart their expedition from Sfakia.

The local Ottoman ruler, Mustafa Naili Pasha, gathered an army of 8,000 men in order to suppress the revolt.

Mustafa's Turkish troops were ambushed on their return at a nearby gorge by a group of Cretan freedom fighters from Sfakia and suffered around 1,000 casualties.

[15] This unexplained phenomenon usually occurs on the anniversary of the battle where images of advancing troops (Drosoulites) appear at dawn to hover above the tragic location.