Bright, distinct uniforms made sense when battles were fought at close range in dense smoke from black-powder weapons — commanders needed to instantly tell friend from foe through the chaos. The rise of long-range, accurate rifles in the late 1800s flipped that logic: being easily visible became a liability instead of an organizational tool, since an enemy could now spot and hit a soldier from much farther away. Armies gradually shifted to muted, blending colors like khaki and olive drab, prioritizing concealment over battlefield identification.