Somewhere in Goodbye to All That, Robert Graves writes that the regulars regarded the Christmas truce in no particularly sentimental light, but as a commonplace

Somewhere in Goodbye to All That, Robert Graves writes that the regulars regarded the Christmas truce in no particularly sentimental light, but as a commonplace exchange of courtesies between enemies. I don't think that Graves was then in France; however, at that point in the war, the British forces would have had a higher proportion of regulars and mobilized reservists than later. Grant in his memoirs tells of inspecting the lines in Chattanooga: 'When I came to the camp of the picket guard of our side, I heard the call, "Turn out the guard for the commanding general." I replied, "Never mind the guard," and they were dismissed and went back to their tents. Just back of these, and about equally distant from the creek, were the guards of the Confederate pickets. The sentinel on their post called out in like manner, "Turn out the guard for the commanding general," and, I believe, added, "General Grant." Their line in a moment front-faced to the north, facing me, and gave a salute, which I returned.'