Uniqueness of Section 35

For the majority of Song of Myself, Whitman writes from his personal knowledge and his experience. However, in section 35, he instead tells the story of his grandmother's father, the sailor, and his unlikely win at sea from the perspective of the sailor instead of himself. This section is interesting because Whitman never says "I" in reference to himself and positions himself as the passive recipient of the tale: "as my grandmother's father told it to me." In the majority of the other sections he is the instructor or leader of the reader or is relating his direct personal bodily experience. Therefore, the distance from the reader serves to create section 35 as an independent story within the poem.
Though section 35 is markedly different in point of view from the other sections, it still maintains the American-ness of Song of Myself because it continues the themes of American steadfastness. The captain of the great-grandfather's ship does not surrender during the battle even though his men are convinced they are doomed to sinking. He deals the other ship a dreadful blow and outlasts them. This triumph against all odds is a truly American ideal that Whitman presents in section 35. Additionally, the victory against all odds of section 35 is a nice juxtaposition against the massacre of Texans Whitman tells in section 34.
In section 36, Whitman continues the story begun in section 35 but does not address who is speaking. He does not acknowledge if or when the "I" is himself and he has assumed the active role in the poem again. The break between the sections leads readers to believe that Whitman has resumed the narration but this is left ambiguous. This also works as a transition to the next few sections using sea imagery even though the direct retelling of the sea-fight is over.