JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<a href="#" onclick='javascript:sorter("tbl", 0, 0)'>Sort ASC</a>
<a href="#" onclick='javascript:sorter("tbl", 0, 1)'>Sort DESC</a>

<table id='tbl'>

  <tr>
    <td>01-02-2016</td>
    <td> COLUMN 1 - A</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>02-01-2016</td>
    <td> COLUMN 1 - B</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>12-12-2014</td>
    <td> COLUMN 1 - C</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>12-14-2015</td>
    <td> COLUMN 1 - D</td>
  </tr>

</table>

JavaScript

var sorter = function(id, column, order) {
  var tbl = document.getElementById(id);
  var rows = Array.prototype.slice.call(tbl.rows, 0);

  rows = rows.sort(function(a, b) {

    var dtA = new Date(a.cells[column].innerHTML);
    var dtB = new Date(b.cells[column].innerHTML);

    return (order == 0) ? dtA > dtB : dtA < dtB;

  });

  for (i = 0; i < rows.length; i++) {
    tbl.appendChild(rows[i]);
  }

}