In celebration of the 158th birthday of Fort Bayard, the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society will host a talk by historian John P. Langelier, on Saturday, August 17, at 6 p.m. The event will be held in the New Deal Theater at historic Fort Bayard.

On August 21, 1866, Company B of the 125th Colored Volunteer Infantry arrived to establish Fort Bayard, which was named in honor of Brigadier General George D. Bayard, who had been killed in action during the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862. The post remained an active military base until 1899, when it was repurposed as the Army's first tuberculosis hospital. It later became a Veterans hospital, then a New Mexico State Hospital. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2004.

The FBHPS annually commemorates the establishment of the fort, and is happy to host Dr. Langelier, who has recently completed a new book, entitled More Work Than Glory: Buffalo Soldiers in the United States Army, 1866-1916. The book is the result of years of research, and was commissioned by the National Park Service and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. It is the latest of numerous books and monographs authored by Dr. Langelier, whose career spanned more than four decades in public history.

Dr. Langelier's talk will focus on black Army chaplains, including Allan Allensworth, whose distinguished career included several remarkable years at Fort Bayard. Following the talk, guests are invited to partake of birthday cake and refreshments, and meet the author, who will conduct a book signing at that time.

The event is open at no charge to the public. For more information, contact Doug or Becky Dinwiddie at 575-388-4862.