The 1861 Enfield was a short version of the Enfield 1853; in the British Empire it was used by the artillery units for their personal defense. In the American Civil War (1861-1865) it was used by the artillery and cavalry units, being the second most used rifle of the war. It was a very popular weapon, especially among the Confederate troops, who imported more Enfield rifles than any other weapon during the confrontation, buying them from private contractors and arms dealers.