Marilyn,

If his daughter's account is factual (some, but not all, are), its highly likely that he was in the cavalry. This does seem to square, because Company D (Perkin's Co.) of the 11th Miss. Cav. (Perrin's) was raised in Leake, Noxubee, & Winston Counties.
You can order his record's, including pension information, from this site. (See banner above)

Good luck,
Rick