Complex sentence: Trouble did occur, with confrontations occurring between the regiment and Māoris, before in one incident, the 96th met a large Māori force and in response withdrew in the face of, what would be, almost certain destruction in the face of a numerically superior opponent.
Split into simpler sentences: Trouble did occur, with confrontations occurring between the regiment and Māoris. In one incident, the 96th met a large Māori force and in response withdrew in the face of a numerically superior opponent.