JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div id=test>
    <div>B</div>
    <div>D</div>
    <div>A</div>
    <div>C</div>
    <div>E</div>
    <div>B</div>
    <div>D</div>
    <div>A</div>
    <div>C</div>
    <div>E</div>
    <div>B</div>
    <div>D</div>
    <div>A</div>
    <div>C</div>
    <div>E</div>
</div>
<input type=button value="Sort" onclick="dosort()">

JavaScript

var firsttime = true;
function dosort() {
    var elements = document.getElementById('test').children;
    var sortMe = [];
    for (var i=0; i<elements.length; i++)
        sortMe.push(elements[i]);
    sortMe.sort(function(a, b) {
        if (firsttime) {
            if (a.innerText < b.innerText) return -1;
            else if (a.innerText > b.innerText) return 1;
            else return 0;
        } else {
            return 0;
        }
    });
    var parent = document.getElementById('test');
    parent.innerHTML = "";
    for(var i = 0, l = sortMe.length; i < l; i++) {
        parent.appendChild(sortMe[i]);
    }
    firsttime=false;
}