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Roger,
This site:
http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm
has John L. Perkins listed as a member of Co. H, 7th Ill. Cavalry. The site also has a summary of the unit's activities and commands this unit served in.
You can order his records from several sources, such as this one:
http://history-sites.net/mb/cw/ilcwmb/index.cgi
At that site you will also find many individuals familiar with Illinos units that may be able to give you more specific information. His records may show special duty aside from being a trooper. Since the only information on the NPS site notes that he went in as a Private and came out as a Private, it would be difficult to prove that he was a "drill master" unless he was promoted and then later demoted. Duty as a nurse should be noted in his records. The unit history definitely shows service under Grant, but proof that this man knew Grant, or even spoke to him, would be difficult to come by unless it is in his or Grant's memoirs or journals. It would be a rare Private, indeed, that had a personal relationship with the General, unless the unit served at some point in time as his escort. My brief perusal of the unit history did not turn up that fact. It is not unusual at all, in fact it is rather common, for family histories to become embellished over time by succeeding generations, sometimes assisted by the fading memory of the aged warrior himself. Mere service under a certain commander can easily warp into something more personal. That's not saying it "ain't so" - just not so likely and difficult to prove.
Good luck,
Rick
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