George Washington Gardiner (1795–1835) was a United States Army officer who was killed by Seminole Indians at the Dade Battle in 1835.

Captain Gardiner was originally supposed to be the commander of this column, but he was suddenly informed that his wife Frances Fowler was gravely ill, so he quickly left to attend to her.

[3] Because of Gardiner's absence, Major Francis Dade was sent from Key West to Fort Brooke to take command of the Army column in December 1835.

After attending to his wife, Gardiner managed to rejoin the column at the last moment before it began marching north, but he was now subordinate to Major Dade.

Gardiner used this lull in the fighting to order his men to build a small triangular stockade, and for them to bring their six-pounder cannon to defend it.

As they were being fired upon again by the Seminoles, Gardiner attempted to rally his men by standing up and swinging his artillery sword in the air while yelling orders at them.