Complex sentence: On the Fourth of July the fully equipped Legion marched to Seven Springs to be sworn into the Confederate army, however Major Pelham suffers a heart attack and dies before the Legion leaves, a great blow to the men as Pelham was a popular leader.
Split into simpler sentences: On the Fourth of July, the fully equipped Legion marches to Seven Springs to be sworn into the Confederate army. However Major Pelham suffers a heart attack and dies before the Legion leaves, a great blow to the men as Pelham was a popular leader.