Complex sentence: A British warship and boats filled with sailors and marines attacked an American privateer in port and after repulsing two British attacks, the Americans won the battle but scuttled their ship the following morning to prevent her from being captured.
Split into simpler sentences: A British warship and boats filled with sailors and marines attacked an American privateer in port. After repulsing two British attacks, the Americans won the battle but scuttled their ship the following morning to prevent her from being captured.