found: Wikipedia, June 30, 2006:Marshal (The special symbol of Marshals is a baton, and so their insignia often incorporates batons) Baton--symbol (A short, heavy white baton was the symbol of the imperial mandate given (as his title reflects) to a Roman military legate ... After this Roman symbol the French Kings, and next Napoleon I Bonaparte, creator of the First French Empire, modelled the ornate batons for their marshals (top generals, often also given high noble titles etc.), emblematically seen with stars or bees respectively; this was echoed by marshals' batons in other armies)
