Yes, I believe Garry Kasparov revived it in the modern era.

why didn't black just return to its original position?

If you mean 5... Bc5?, that just gives White an additional tempo with 6. d4.

5...Be7 is the preference of many modern players, and is more frequent today.

Dufresne was against a strong pawn center. after d6 anderssen would probably play cxd4! if black would play dxc3 then Qb3 Qe7 Nxc3 - Developing knight in a good position.

In spite of that analysis vbpower that doesnt explain why he'd waste a tempo to push a pawn that can easily be retaken at any time and cant add any significant advantage.

7...Bb6 is a good try, but after 8. cxd4 d6 White has fair compensation for the pawn and attacking chances.

7... Ne7 is book. Though vbpower's analysis does hint at the purpose of Dufresne's move: to prevent cxd4 with a strong centre for White.

8. Re1!?

Re1 is a normal-looking developing move given that the black monarch might suffer some headache if the e-file opens up, but it's in fact a bit slow. It doesn't start an immediate threat unlike Qb3, and a cause de ça, black gets the opportunity to get his pawn to d6, or close the e-file with Nge7. Qb3 is therefore the flexible move and saving the rook some time, though the rook might end up on e1 anyway.  

The move is 9...Nxe5, obviously and is a blunder that loses the game and according to Stockfish3, you soon see why: 10.Re1 ...d6 11.Bg5! and it's just sick that black best move is Bb6, giving up the queen! The human line continues: ...Qg6 12.Nxe5 ...dxe5 13.Rxe5+ and black has to choose between: ...Kf8 14.Qa3+ ...Qd6 15.Rd5! and black's position is hopeless.(...Qxa3 16.Rd8#!) or ...Be6 14.Qxb7 ...Rd8(..Rc8?? 15.Qxc8# since the bishop is pinned!) 15.Qc6+ ...Kf8(...Rd7?? 16.Qa8+ ...Rd8 17.Qxd8#) 16.Bxd8 and black is doomed and might aswell resign since he'll face 17.Qc5, with or without check!

There is a possible plan with 12... d6 13. exd6 Bh3, threatening checkmate with Qxg2. But black's knight would be in trouble. Of course, that wouldn't matter if a chance to checkmate creeps up.

another "cool" move is d5!? or maybe 0-0!? making white's progress slightly more difficult.

!? Better is 17. Ng3! Qh6 18. Bc1 Qe6 19. Bc4, winning material. However, Anderssen wants to win in style.

I think you might want to revise that comment

Raymond has a point. The line he gives (from The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games) is a more straightforward win (it traps the Black queen). Whether it's "better" is a value judgement.

Nowadays the computer finds ...Qh3! an almost impossible move to find for the human mind, ignoring the free knight. However, with the checkmate threat but more importantly, guarding of the crucial d7-square and it appers white will have to settle for a draw since his beautiful sacrifice combo is nowhere to be found. (Bf1, Qf5, Bd3, Qh3 ½-½ by threefold repetition.)

Kd8???

Well, he could, but that also loses. 20... Kd8 21. Rxd7+ Kxd7 22. Bf5++ Ke8 23. Bd7+ Kd8 24. Bxc6+ Qxd1+ 25. Qxd1+ and mate soon.

22. QxN# or BxN#

Why not Kc6?

Then Bd7#.

23...Kd8 loses to the pretty pxN# White is down a queen, a rook, & a knight yet mates with a pawn!

The bishop duo insn't that horrible either!