Complex sentence: During the withdrawal, Commander Andrew H. Foote of the "Portsmouth" paddled out to his ship, as he paddled past the Pearl River Forts, the Chinese garrison fired on the small American boat a few times but the withdrawal continued.
Split into simpler sentences: During the withdrawal, Commander Andrew H. Foote of the "Portsmouth" paddled out to his ship. As he paddled past the Pearl River Forts, the Chinese garrison fired on the small American boat a few times but the withdrawal continued.