Complex sentence: He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1857 and commenced practice in San Jose; during the Civil War he was commissioned as a captain and promoted to lieutenant colonel, and served successively as inspector and ordnance officer.
Split into simpler sentences: He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1857 and commenced practice in San Jose. During the Civil War he was commissioned as a captain and promoted to lieutenant colonel, and served successively as inspector and ordnance officer.