Complex sentence: Just before departure, Timberlake witnessed the ceremonial return of a war party led by Chief Willinawaw, later recalling that the party sang "the war-song" and planted a scalp-filled pole next to the councilhouse door.
Split into simpler sentences: Just before departure, Timberlake witnessed the ceremonial return of a war party led by Chief Willinawaw. The party sang "the war-song" and planted a scalp-filled pole next to the councilhouse door.