Complex sentence: Rodney, in command of the naval forces, positioned his fleet so as to neutralise any shore batteries but instead of disembarking the troops and launching an immediate assault, Rodney sent a message to Governor Johannes de Graaff suggesting that he surrender to avoid bloodshed.
Split into simpler sentences: Rodney, in command of the naval forces, positioned his fleet so as to neutralise any shore batteries. Instead of disembarking the troops and launching an immediate assault, Rodney sent a message to Governor Johannes de Graaff suggesting that he surrender to avoid bloodshed.