Complex sentence: During the Spanish-American War in 1898, Smith formed his own volunteer army with the approval of the U.S. War Department, known as the "Skaguay Military Company", with Soapy as its captain.
Split into simpler sentences: During the Spanish-American War in 1898, Smith formed his own volunteer army with the approval of the U.S. War Department. Known as the "Skaguay Military Company," with Soapy as its captain.