The news about Samos' revolution and raiding made the Sultan furious. He ordered the overall manslaughter of all men above eight years old. So the Turkish ships set off for Samos. Their captain was Karalis. Meanwhile, in Kousantasis many thousands were about to invade the island.

Lykourgos anticipated this from the Turks. So he got prepared. He asked Psara and the other islands to send ships for reinforcement and set watching spots on the coasts and on the mountains.

The situation of the army as far as the weapons and the provisions were concerned was tragic. They would not even have had powder for their guns if a teacher had not managed to make about 500 okas ( 1 oka = 1280 grams ) powder of bad quality.

On the 3rd of July, Sunday afternoon, the Turkish fleet appeared. The soldiers immediately assumed their positions and the women and children went to the mountains and prayed in all churches, asking God and Virgin Mary to help them.

With the sunset the whole Turkish fleet anchored on the coast of the valley from Kavotzortzi to White Cape. Lykourgos had been watching the fleet's moves and he knew how to place his soldiers. He put Lachanas in Mesokampos, Captain Stamatis in Kavotzortzi and Kontaxis in the White Cape. Melachrinos was guarding Karlovasi at first. Later on he came to Tigani. He and Lykourgos with Angelinas as their sub - chiliarch and other commanders and 400 soldiers set his headquarters on the west of Tigani, in Potokaki.

In order to make the Turks believe that their army was large, he found the following trick : he ordered a lot of men to dress up in men's clothes and go down from the capital to the seaside, holding sticks instead of weapons. When they reached the seaside, they came back secretly and returned to the capital and then back to the seaside. So, the army appeared to be endless.

Karalis sent a man to ask the Samians to give in all their weapons. They refused and the next morning the Turkish canons started shooting. The Samians were forced to retreat back to the hills. But they could not afford to shoot in vain as they had not enough ammunition.

Karalis was happy about this and ordered an invasion to Potokaki. A lot of boats full of soldiers headed towards the land. Then Lykourgos' five canons started shooting. The Turkish captain, stunned with the unexpected resistance, ordered the boats to return and the bombing started all over again. The Samians had gained their courage and when the Turks threw a canon ball they took it and threw it back to them. When darkness fell, the canons stopped. When the sun came out, they started again. Twelve Turkish ships headed for Kavotzeortzi to invade the place. A lot of boats full of soldiers reached the seaside. The few soldiers that were there resisted but not for long. They were forced to retreat. Then a lot of Turks together with Kaplan - agha, came out. The moment was very critical. If the Turks remained on the land and they hid behind the rocks, Samos would have been lost. It would be extremely difficult for the Samian army to repel them.

Captain Stamatis and Melachrinos together with 20 lads went there to help. The Turks resumed positions and they supported the invasion. Captain Stamatis decides to hit back. Before the Turks had the time to hid behind the rocks, he stood up, pulled his sword and yells to his comrades : " We are not going to do anything with the guns. The Turks have resumed positions. Let's grab our swords and God help us ". He said these, made the sign of the cross and rushed against the Turks. Melachrinos and the others followed and there was a huge battle at the seaside.

They all fought hard, both the Samians and the Turks. They pushed each other, swore to each other and threw each other into the sea. The swords and the guns did not stop and he battle seemed endless. In the end, Captain Stamatis skillfully tore Kaplan - agha in two. The Turks immediately lost their courage.

Meanwhile other Samians came to help, almost 300. The Turks saw that it was impossible to remain on the land and went into the boats. But none of them survived. Only seven of them saw that they would not survive whatever they did and they chose to fight till the end, hidden behind the rocks. When the sun was high above to, no Turk was on the island.

So, the first battle ended. The Samians had 4 casualties and 10 wounded men. From the Turks no one survived. The blood painted the sea red. That is why Kavotzortzis was named Kavophonias ( phonias = killer ).

When the wonderful news became known to the whole island, the people regained their courage and they all gathered in churches to thank Jesus and Virgin Mary.