Dude... your playing it wrong.

Everyone who complains that ETW is lacking melee combat... is playing it wrong.

Play it Suvorov style, fire a volley or two then go balls-to-the-wall charge!
Such things can help you fight off much larger numbers of troops! Especially if you've tech'd up the bayonets enough!

Of course some units are not meant to be used in melee combat, but they still fair "OK". Riflemen, and other light units are best used to fire from a distance.