How did Robert E. Lee become commander of the Army of Northern Virginia?

Robert E. Lee became the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia in May 1862 following the wounding of General Joseph E. Johnston at the Battle of Seven Pines.12

Prior to this appointment, Lee had been serving as the principal military adviser to Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond. While his selection initially drew criticism from some who feared he lacked the necessary aggressiveness for field command, his subsequent leadership during the Seven Days' Battles successfully pushed Union forces away from the Confederate capital and solidified his reputation as a commander.23