although peace talks were ongoing, louis followed his normal policy of taking the offensive, then negotiating from strength; the french used the 1676 campaign season to capture condé-sur-l'escaut, bouchain, maubeuge and bavay. this cut off valenciennes and cambrai, while french cavalry prevented movement of troops and devastated areas around the towns. marshall schomberg, french commander in flanders, had proposed taking cambrai in august, but was ordered to relieve maastricht, then under siege by the dutch.