Ron Chernow was even more clear in his autobiography of Grant on what the status of the slaves actually was. Those slaves belonged to Frederick Dent and while Julia Dent Grant had use of them she never held title. The reason for this is that Frederick Dent did not like is son-in-law and truly detested his daughter's anti-slavery father-in-law. Dent feared that if he gave ownership if the slaves to Julia then Grant, as husband, would free the slaves and there would be nothing Dent could do about it.
Well gosh....Julia Dent-Grant certainly thought those slaves were hers.....she was her father’s heir after all. She did call them “my slaves”.