BALOTS, _Fr._. sacks or bales of wool, made use of in cases of great emergency, to form parapets or places of arms. They are likewise adapted for the defence of trenches, to cover the workmen in saps, and in all instances where promptitude is required. BAN, _or_ BANN, a sort of proclamation made at the head of a body of troops, or in the several quarters or cantonments of an army, by sound of trumpet, or beat of drum; either for observing martial discipline, or for declaring a new officer, or punishing a soldier, or the like. At present such kind of proclamations are given out in the written orders of the day. BAN and ARRIERE BAN, a French military phrase signifying the convocation of vassals under the feudal system. Ménage, a French writer, derives the term from the German word _ban_, which means _publication_; Nicod derives it from another German term which signifies _field_. Borel from the Greek _pan_ which means _all_, because the convocation was general. In the reign of Charles VII. the _ban_ and _arriere ban_ had different significations. Formerly it meant the assembling of the ordinary militia. After the days of Charles VII. it was called the extraordinary militia. The first served more than the latter; and each was distinguished according to the nature of its particular service. The persons belonging to the arriere-ban were at one period accoutred and mounted like light-horse; but there were occasions on which they served like the infantry. Once under Francis I. in 1545, and again under Lewis XIII. who issued out an order in 1637, that the Arriere-Ban should serve on foot. BAN likewise signified during the ancient monarchy of France, a proclamation made by the sound of drums, trumpets, and tamborines, either at the head of a body of troops, or in quarters. Sometimes to prevent the men from quitting camp, at others to enforce the rigor of military discipline; sometimes for the purpose of receiving a new commanding officer, and at others to degrade a military character. BANDER, _Fr._ to unite, to intrigue together for the purposes of insurrection. BANDERET, in military history, implies the commander in chief of the troops of the canton of Berne, in Switzerland. BANDES, _Fr._ bands, bodies of infantry. BANDES _Francoises_. The French infantry was anciently so called. The term, however, become less general and was confined to the _Prévôt des Bandes_, or the Judge or Prevost marshal that tried the men belonging to the French guards. BANDIERES, _Fr._ Une Armée rangée en front de _bandieres_, signifies an army in battle array. This disposition of the army is opposed to that in which it is cantoned and divided into several bodies. BANDOLEER, in ancient military history, a large leathern belt worn over the right shoulder, and hanging under the left arm, to carry some kind of warlike weapon.